General
SERAP Urges Tinubu to Stop Wike, Governors from Giving Cars, Houses to Judges

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to stop the practices of governors and the Minister of the FCT giving cars, houses, and others to judges.
In its latest latter, the organisation called on the President to “stop the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike and Nigeria’s 36 governors from usurping the authority and responsibilities of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and heads of court through giving cars and houses to judges.”
“Such practices are clearly antithetical to the constitutional principles of separation of powers, checks and balances and the rule of law, and may create the perception that the judiciary is subservient to the executive,” the group noted.
SERAP also urged him to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) as a defender of public interest, to challenge in court the constitutionality and legality of the practices by members of the executive of giving cars and houses to judges in Abuja and across the states.
In the open letter dated November 9, 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Politicians ought to keep their hands off the judiciary and respect and protect its integrity and independence. Politicians must treat judges with dignity and respect.”
It said the Nigerian Constitution and international standards make clear that the judiciary is neither subservient to the executive nor the legislature.”
The letter, copied to Ms Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, read in part: “Undermining the fundamental principle of separation of powers risks constraining the ability of the judiciary to act as a check on the executive.”
“SERAP urges you to substantially improve funding for the judiciary to enhance their working conditions, welfare and pensions through existing constitutional arrangements and mechanisms, to uphold the independence and autonomy of the judiciary and to protect judges from executive interference.
“Your government has the constitutional and international obligations to promote public confidence in the judiciary and safeguard the rule of law.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government and the attorneys general of the 36 states to comply with our request in the public interest.
“The reports that members of the executives in the FCT and across several states are giving cars and houses to judges appear to take place without following any constitutional or procedural process, which may have a chilling effect on the rule of law and access to justice and effective remedies,” it argued.
SERAP also noted that while exercising his powers under section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution former president Mohammadu Buhari signed Executive Order No.10 of 2020, to ensure that the judicial arms of government in the 36 states of the federation no longer have to wait on state governors for funds.
“Specifically, the Executive Order states that allocation of appropriated funds to the state judiciary in the state appropriation laws in their annual budget shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State, as a First Line Charge,” it said.
General
Obasa Makes First Appearance at Lagos Assembly After Impeachment

By Adedapo Adesanya
Mr Mudashiru Obasa made his first appearance at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex on Thursday, February 27, 2025, after he was impeached as the Speaker on January 13, 2025.
The former speaker entered the chamber flanked by armed and uniformed security operatives, who ushered him into the premises.
Business Post reports that Mr Obasa was welcomed with an ovation by his supporters and well-wishers
The politician was welcomed at the entrance gate of the Assembly Complex.
The 40-member House removed the Agege I representative as Speaker by more than two-thirds of the house over alleged misconduct and corruption offences.
Mr Obasa’s then deputy, Mrs Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new Speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the South-West state.
With her emergence, Mrs Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency I, ended the 10-year reign of Mr Obasa on the seat.
Mr Obasa was first elected into the House in 2007. He has been in the chamber since then. He emerged as a speaker in June 2015 before his removal in January 2025. He is believed to have the strong support of President Bola Tinubu, who reportedly asked for his return and the resignation of Mrs Meranda.
It is not immediately clear what the next development will be with his return to the chamber, but Mrs Meranda has about 36 members of the state parliament as loyalists. They have all supported and passed a vote of confidence on her, insisting that Mr Obasa has no room to return to the position despite claiming he was not lawfully removed from office.
Last week, some agents of the Department of Security Services (DSS) and legislative workers clashed in the chambers.
The incident led to 36 lawmakers passing a vote of confidence in Mrs Meranda, who was teary-eyed.
Meanwhile, the police had earlier allegedly withdrawn all the escorts attached to the speaker.
General
EFCC Laments Crypto Funding of Fraud Syndicates’ Cells

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, says organised foreign fraud syndicates are establishing cells in Nigerian cities and recruiting youths into serious organised cybercrimes, made easy by cryptocurrencies.
This was disclosed by the anti-graft agency in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr Dele Oyewale, on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Olukoyede said this while receiving participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 18 of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the team was led by the institute’s Director of Studies, Mr Hyginus Ngele, to the commission.
Mr Olukoyede expressed surprise at how bandits and insurgents were able to sustain their activities in the country over the years.
He noted with concern, the rate of flow of small arms and light weapons across the borders and the involvement of non-state actors in the illegal exploitation of minerals in parts of the country.
The EFCC boss said all these activities compounded the threats in the security landscape.
“Another dimension that is not given attention is the discovery, recently, that organised foreign fraud syndicates are establishing cells in Nigerian cities.
”They are recruiting young Nigerians into serious organised cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency fraud.
“By the virtue of EFCC’s recent discovery, we are beginning to see the likelihood, the propensity that a lot of these people are into illegal importation of arms into the country using cryptocurrency as means of payment.”
According to him, this is an area that must interest all and sundry.
“In the special operations we carried out in Lagos recently, we arrested 194 foreigners in the heart of Victoria Island.
”They comprised Chinese, Filipinos, Eastern Europeans, Tunisians and among others in one building at a time. You can imagine what these guys are doing, 194 of them.
“Some of them don’t even have valid visas and most of the financial activities they carried out were through cryptocurrency,” he said.
He said the commission also discovered that some of the foreigners arrested were already ex-convicts in their countries.
“Some of them have been convicted and escaped from their countries and found safe haven in Africa, not only Nigeria.
“We discovered that they are also developing cells in some other African countries by virtue of the investigation we are carrying out,” he said.
The EFCC boss called for spirited efforts at both national and continental levels to combat the menace of internet fraud.
He stressed that the money laundering and national security dimension of the presence of foreign organised crime groups demanded close scrutiny.
“All security, intelligence and law enforcement organisations in Nigeria and indeed Africa, must close ranks in dealing with this challenge,” he said.
On his part, the NISS commandant, Mr Joseph Odama, who spoke through Mr Ngele, praised Mr Olukoyede’s leadership of the EFCC for the commission’s “remarkable achievements in combating corruption, money laundering, and other financial crimes.”
He noted that the achievements had not only strengthened Nigeria’s integrity but also served as a model for other nations in Africa and beyond.
He said the EFCC, under Mr Olukoyede, had been at the forefront of investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, including those involving non-state actors.
“Your commission’s exploratory activities have uncovered the intricate networks through which some NGOs and other entities channel funds to support hostile non-state actors, thereby, fueling instability in various parts of the country and the African continent.
“We recognise the critical role the EFCC plays in disrupting these networks and ensuring accountability.
“In light of this, we are particularly interested in hearing your insights on how your commission navigates the complexities of investigating and prosecuting cases involving non-state actors.
“We also seek your contributions on how Nigeria and other African nations can strengthen legal and institutional frameworks to address the challenges posed by these actors while promoting transparency and accountability in their operations.”
General
NSCDC Intercepts 1,571 Litres of Petroleum Products in Zamfara

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Zamfara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intercepted 1,571 litres of petroleum products in the Northern state.
According to the security outfit, the products were illegally transported in jerry cans to banditry-prone areas.
The State Commandant, Mr Sani Mustapha, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Umar Muhammad, revealed that four suspects were arrested in connection with the crime at two separate locations.
Among them were two filling station pump attendants and two buyers apprehended in the Birnin Magaji and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state.
Mr Muhammad disclosed that aside from transporting fuel from unauthorised locations, the suspects also violated the Executive Order prohibiting the sale of petroleum products in jerricans within Zamfara State.
He stated that two of the suspects were caught in Birnin Magaji with 1,296 litres of fuel, while the other two were arrested in Tsafe with 275 litres of the product.
“Today, we bring before you four suspects apprehended for illegal dealings of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in large quantities, violating the National and State Executive Order of petroleum products sales to retailers in jerry cans,” he stated.
The NSCDC assured citizens that investigations are ongoing and reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the law to curb illegal fuel diversion and activities that could aid insecurity in the state.
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