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Lagos Law Bans Landlords From Evicting Tenants Without Court Approval

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Lagos State Government, through the proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 (Draft), has criminalised harassment and illegal evictions, making it an offence for landlords to eject tenants without a valid court order or use self-help measures such as cutting utilities or dismantling parts of a building.

Section 10 of the bill states, “Obligations of the landlord include not disturbing the tenant’s quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the premises, including not removing the roof, cutting off electricity or water supply, or doing anything that will interfere with peaceful enjoyment of the demised premises.”

Section 43 of the bill notes, “Subject to the provisions of any law, any person who demolishes, alters, or modifies a building to which this law applies with a view of ejecting a tenant and without an order of the court, or any person who, with a view of disturbing the quiet enjoyment of any tenant, attempts to forcibly eject or forcibly ejects a tenant, threatens or molests a tenant by action or words with a view of ejecting such tenant, or wilfully damages any premises, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not less than one million naira (N1,000,000.00) or a maximum of six (6) months’ custodial or non-custodial sentence, or both.”

This responds to widespread reports of landlords locking out tenants, breaking into their apartments, or deploying thugs during disputes.

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Meanwhile, section 33 allows the court to determine whether a rent increase is justified by considering rent levels in similar areas, evidence presented by both parties, and any special circumstances related to the property.

Importantly, landlords are prohibited from evicting tenants while such cases are ongoing, providing crucial protection in a state where rent is often increased by 50–200 per cent without adequate notice.

It states, “Subject to any agreement to the contrary, an existing tenant may apply to the Court for an order declaring that the increase in rent imposed by the landlord as payable under a tenancy is unreasonable.

“In determining whether an increase in the rent is unreasonable, the Court shall issue a hearing notice to the landlord and shall consider the application on the following grounds: (a) the general level of rents in the locality or a similar locality for comparative analysis; (b) evidence of witnesses of the parties; and (c) any special circumstances relating to the premises in question or any other relevant matter.

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If satisfied that the increase in the rent is unreasonable, the court, after due consideration, may order that the increase in the rent be changed to a specific amount.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, it shall be unlawful for a landlord to eject a tenant from any premises pending the determination of the action filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.”

The Bill further streamlines dispute resolution, ensures transparency in charges, and reinforces tenants’ rights.

Sections 20–24 introduce faster legal processes for filing and resolving tenancy matters. Cases can now be filed via originating summons, hearings must be scheduled within 14 days, and courts may sit on weekends, public holidays, or virtually. Mediation is capped at 30 days.

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The bill also enhances transparency in the management of refundable charges.

Under Section 12, landlords must provide tenants with an account of how service charges and security deposits are used every six months, and deposits must be refunded except in documented cases of damage.

In addition, Section 7 affirms tenants’ rights to privacy, peaceful enjoyment of the property, use of common areas, and compensation for approved improvements.

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See Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 22nd January 2026

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The Black Market Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate for 22nd January 2026 Can Be Accessed Below.
NOTE: The exchange rate changes hourly. It depends on the volume of dollars available and the Demand. This means…you can buy or sell 1 dollar at a certain rate, and the price can change (high or low) within hours.

The official naira black market exchange rate in Nigeria today, including the Black Market rates, Bureau De Change (BDC), and CBN rates.

Please note that the exchange rate is subject to hourly fluctuations influenced by the supply and demand of dollars in the market.
What’s the dollar to naira black market today, 22nd January 2026?
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players sell a dollar for ₦1490 and buy at ₦1480 on Thursday, 22nd January, 2025, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).

Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.

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Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Selling Rate ₦1490
Buying Rate ₦1480
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Highest Rate ₦1423
Lowest Rate ₦1419

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Kudirat Abiola’s Murder: Supreme Court Dumps Trial Of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Supreme Court has dumped the trial of the former Chief Security Officer, to ex-Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), in the murder of Kudirat Abiola.

During proceeding, Lagos State was slated to re-open the trial, but no legal representation was made, while no process was filed since 2014 when the order to re-open the case was granted in its favour.

Paul Daudu, counsel to Al- Mustapha, informed the Justices of the Apex Court, that Lagos has not taken any step to implement the order granted it in 2014 to re-open the trial.

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Daudu said that not even a notice of appeal was filed by Lagos state, as the appellant to demonstrate its seriousness to prosecute the trial.

The senior lawyer informed the Apex Court that in 2014 when the order to re-open the trial was granted, Lagos was issued a 30-day ultimatum to file its notice of appeal.

Daudu explained that more than nine years after, nothing was done to comply with the order. He therefore urged the Court to hold that the appellant has abandoned the case and should be dismissed in its entirety.

Justice Uwani Aba-Aji who presided over the matter, sought to know if Lagos was served with hearing notice, the Registrar of the Court answered in the affirmative.

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In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court agreed that Lagos State has lost interest in the matter and consequently abandoned it.

Justice Aba-Aji held that nine years was long enough for the appellant to have filed notice of appeal and the brief of appeal in the matter.

Besides, the Court expressed disgust that no legal representation was made by the state government while no information was made available to the Court and the respondent despite being served with hearing notice since 2020.

Consequently, the matter was dismissed.

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Kudirat was the wife of businessman cum politician, MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election that was annulled by former President Ibrahim Babangida.

She was, however, murdered in Lagos in the nationwide crisis that followed the annulment and in the course of her persistent struggle to get the annulment reversed by the military.

Another matter by the Lagos governor, on the same trial was also dismissed on the same ground.

The Supreme Court had in 2014 in a ruling on the application by Lagos State for permission to re-open the case out of time, granted the request for the Lagos to challenge the Court of Appeal decision of July 12, 2013 that discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha from the murder case.

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The then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen in the ruling of a panel of seven Justices ordered Lagos State to file its notice of appeal within 30 days.

The decision of Justice Onnoghen on the Lagos application argued by Osunsanya Oluwayemisi, a Senior State Counsel in the Lagos Ministry of Justice followed the consent of Al-Mustapha’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), not to oppose the application.

The acting CJN had said that by the decision of the apex court, the time for Lagos to appeal against the findings of the Court of Appeal on the high profile murder case has been extended from July 12, 2013 when the Court of Appeal judgment was delivered till January 7, 2014.

By the granted permission in 2014, the coast became cleared for the Lagos to challenge the not guilty verdict granted in favour of the military officer by the Court of Appeal in 2013

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In the then move to re-open the case, the Lagos State government had sought to file a notice of appeal out of the time at the Supreme Court asking for the permission of the court to allow it to challenge the Appeal Court findings of Justices Amina Adamu Augie, Rita Nosakhare Pemu and Fatimo Omoro Akinbami on ground of mis-carriage of Justice in the matter.

The state had in the application prayed the apex court to allow it to exercise its constitutional right to test the validity and correctness of the decision of the Appeal Court.

It claimed that it wanted to raise its ground of appeal on arguable legal and factual issues especially the question of whether there is any direct or circumstantial evidence establishing the guilt passed on Al-Mustapha in the murder case.

It had justified its lateness in filing the appeal on the ground that it set up two legal teams to review the circumstances of the case and the verdict of the Court of Appeal.

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The government said that it took a long time for the two legal teams to present their findings and recommended that an appeal case can be filed and sustained.

The Lagos State Government said that it will ask the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which on July 12, 2013 discharged and acquitted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, in the murder case of late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

In place of the Appeal Court decision, the state government said that it will plead with the apex court to uphold and restore the death sentence by hanging placed on the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the former dictator and late Head of State, General Sani Abacha by a Lagos High Court on January 30, 2012.

Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha and one Lateef Shofolahan were arraigned before a Lagos high court on two-count criminal charge of conspiracy to commit murder and the murder of the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996 in Lagos State.

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In the judgment of the high court delivered on January 30, 2012 by Justice Moji Dada, the accused persons were found culpable as charged and sentenced them to death by hanging.

However, at the Court of Appeal approached by Al-Mustapha on April 27, 2012 for the review of the trial and the conviction, the three-member appellate court Justices in a unanimous judgment of July 12, 2013 voided the decision of the high court, set it aside and discharged and acquitted the accused on the ground that the evidence against them was not strong enough to warrant the death sentence.

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Awujale throne: Only Six Applicants meet Criteria as Ogun Govt halts process

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The kingmakers in Ijebu-Ode have disclosed that only six out of between 86 and 95 applications submitted for the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland stool are fully complete.

The Chairman of the Interregnum Council and Head of the Kingmakers, Olorogun Sonny Folorunso Kuku, made this known in an interview with Tribune Online on the progress of the selection process.

According to Kuku, although the selection process has commenced, many of the applications submitted by the ruling families were incomplete, leaving only about six that met the required documentation.

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He explained that the kingmakers had already begun their deliberations but were proceeding with caution to avoid any form of bias.

Kuku said, “The families submitted between 86 and 95 names. This may sound surprising, but many of the applications were incomplete. At this point, only about six applications are fully completed.

“The kingmakers have already begun their work. Once we start, we must be extremely careful with our words and actions so as not to appear biased in any way.”

However, he revealed that the Ogun State Government had temporarily halted the process, noting that the kingmakers were yet to be informed of the exact reason for the decision.

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Kuku added that the kingmakers were confident that the government was equally interested in ensuring a peaceful and credible outcome.

“However, today (Wednesday), we received a message from the government informing us that the process has been temporarily halted.

“At the moment, we do not know the exact reason for this decision. We are in contact with the government to understand why this happened and how the process can resume as quickly as possible.

“We are confident that the government is equally interested in ensuring a peaceful outcome.

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“We are consulting with them, and we believe that something positive will happen very soon,” he said.

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