Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Nigerian military officers invaded the Ikeja Electric office in Lagos State on Thursday, following a dispute over power disconnection to an Air Force base. According to reports, armed military personnel forcibly entered Ikeja Electric’s office on Ago Palace Way in Okota, Isolo, Lagos. Video evidence showed uniformed personnel carrying weapons and halting operations at the premises. Multiple staff members were allegedly forced to kneel while others were reportedly assaulted during the incident. The confrontation reportedly stems from Ikeja Electric’s disconnection of power to the Nigerian Air Force base in Ikeja two weeks prior, as sources indicate that the disconnection resulted…

An Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court has adjourned the case against popular Musician Habeeb Okikiola a.k.a Portable, to March 26 to enable the prosecution merge his charges with those of his workers. When the case against the artist resumed on Wednesday after his earlier arraignment on Feb. 20, the prosecution told the court that it would be a waste of the court’s time to hear the case of Portable and that of his workers separately. Mr. Timileyin Oredein, Senior State Counsel, told the court that Portable’s case had a sister case, which needed to be merged before trial begins. Oredein reminded the…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has summoned the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), to appear before it within 48 hours regarding the conduct of the 2024 local government elections. During Wednesday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the House warned that failure to comply with the summons would result in the issuance of an arrest warrant against the RSIEC Chairman. The Assembly also resolved to formally request Governor Siminalayi Fubara to submit the names of all commissioners who were not screened by the Amaewhule-led Assembly. RSIEC, on Wednesday, scheduled August 9,…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. He reacted to the allegations on Wednesday at the resumption of plenary in the Senate, after a week’s recess. Dismissing the allegations, Senator Akpabio said, “At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.” The Senate President, who said he had been inundated with calls on the matter since February 25, and that he was…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting a disciplinary proceeding against the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, gave the order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel. According to the enrolled court order obtained by our Correspondent on Wednesday, the court said, “Upon reading the twenty-five (25) paragraphed Affidavit in support of the Motion Ex-parte and the Affidavit of Urgency, both deposed to by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Adult, Female, Christian, Nigerian citizen of Kogi Central Senatorial District, and…

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted provisional licenses for 11 new private universities in Nigeria. The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, following the council’s meeting, which was chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to Alausa, the newly approved universities successfully completed the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) rigorous 13-step assessment process before being granted their licenses. He further clarified that a moratorium has now been placed on the approval of additional private universities, meaning no new applications will be considered for the time being. “These…

Former Presidential Adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has criticised Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleging that she was sexually harassed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In her response to the sexual harassment claim on Arise TV on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa stated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is beyond the stage of making such allegations. According to Ita-Giwa, women cannot be sexually harassed when they become senators. “By the time you contest elections and get to Senate, you have passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed. “You go there to serve, and you are all equal in that place. And again, it shows…

The newly appointed Registrar, Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan-Ekiti, Mrs Abimbola Adewumi, has on Tuesday resumed office. Recall that Adewumi was appointed on January 23 as the second substantive registrar of the polytechnic. She holds a BA.Ed. in English from the Lagos State University, as well as a Masters in Human Resources Management from the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. In her inaugural address, she expressed her deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve in the capacity of a registrar, describing her appointment as a call to service. She assured the polytechnic community of her unwavering commitment to excellence and pledged…

The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) has announced the extension of the deadline for submission of memoranda on the creation of additional states and local governments in Nigeria. According to a circular signed by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Review Committee, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on Monday, the new deadline for submission is now March, 26, 2025 and not March 5, 2025 as earlier announced. Kalu said the extension is in response to public requests for additional time, adding the committee remains committed to supporting…

The House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) has approved N250 billion as 2025 budget of the South East Development Commission (SEDC). The budget was approved after its presentation by the commission during its budget defence before the committee on Monday. Speaking after the approval of the budget, Chairman of the committee, Rep. Chris said he was optimistic the approval of the SEDC budget would mark the beginning of good things to come to the South East in terms of development because the region has been neglected for over 54 years after the civil war. Rep Nkwonta said the…