₦airaland Forum

The Supreme Court on Tuesday in Abuja imposed a fine of N40M on human rights activists and Constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome for filing a frivolous, vexatious and irritating motion before the Court in respect of Imo Governorship tussle decided in 2019.

Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, called to the Nigerian Bar over 42 years ago and was fined a huge amount for bringing a motion before the Apex Court seeking to revalidate the suit that removed Emeka Ihedioha as Governor of Imo State in 2019.

The Senior lawyer was ordered in a ruling by Justice Tijani Abubakar to personally pay the N40M fine to four respondents he dragged before the Court.

Those to be paid are the Action People’s Party, APP, Uche Nnadi, Uche Nwosu and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

In the motion considered to be frivolous by the Court, Ozekhome had asked the Court for a consequential order to compel INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Ihedioha to enable him spend a four-year tenure as Imo Governor.

His grouse was that the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma unlawfully spent the four years that Ihedioha ought to spend.

Among others, Ozekhome in the motion claimed that the All Progressives Congress APC had no candidate in the 2019 Imo Governorship election, hence, Uzodinmma ought not to have been made governor on the platform of APC.

However, the Apex Court dismissed the motion on the ground that it has no jurisdiction to entertain such a motion.

Justice Abubakar held in the ruling that the request was strange, frivolous, baseless, unwarranted, vexatious and irritating.

He further held that the motion was a calculated design to demonize the Supreme Court.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, has called for more funding for the Ministry to ensure improved performance in 2024.

Fagbemi said this on Monday in Abuja, when he reviewed the 2023 budget performance of the Ministry and defended the 2024 budget at the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

He said the ministry was allocated N3.3 billion for capital expenditure and N4.6 for recurrent expenditure in 2023.

The AGF said that with less than 30 days to the end of 2023, the Ministry had only gotten releases of N617 million for capital expenditure and N2 .734 billion for recurrent expenditure.
This, he said had greatly affected the performance of the Ministry.

He said the ministry was determined to achieve a paradigm shift in 2024, saying that it allocated N5.3 billion for capital expenditure and N8.8 billion for recurrent expenditure in the 2024 budget.

The minister urged the committee to support the Ministry, as it was fundamental in driving the current administration’s roadmap for the justice sector.

Fagbemi said legal and judicial reforms were vital priority areas under the President’s eight-point agenda.

“In order to ensure the security and confidence of the judicial officers coupled with the location of the trial, the Ministry is required to charter aircraft to airlift them.

”The Ministry is also spending considerable resources on provision or upgrading of infrastructural facilities at the various venues to make them fit for purpose,” he said.

The African Democractic Congress (ADC) has said Governor Hope Uzodinma has wasted three years and 10 months as governor of Imo State.

It said the governor has failed to demonstrate capacity and also lacked indigenous support to effectively combat insecurity and restore sustainable peace in Imo.

Chilos Godsent, the Southeast National Vice Chairman of the ADC, said these in a statement on Thursday following the recent cold murder of officers of the Nigeria Police Force at Ahiara Mbaise by unidentified gunmen on Monday.

The leadership of the ADC admitted that although Uzodinma had demonstrated adequate political will in fighting banditry in the State since inception of his present administration, his strategies have been poor.

“Governor Uzodinma’s strategies are crude and brigandish and therefore may not yield the anticipated positive results.

“It’s on record that since Senator Hope Uzodinma assumed office as the governor of imo state since January 2020, the economy of the state has constantly deteriorated. The state further militarized, thereby causing untold hardship on the masses,” the ADC insisted.

He challenged the government to publish its achievements since inception in 2020.

“The ADC has noted that the Senator Uzodinma-led APC government has no program on agriculture, education, healthcare, housing, industry, Infrastructure, Security, youth and women development etc”, the ADC said.

Friends and family members of a man whose wedding was cancelled in Aba, Abia State by his church, have praised his courage for going ahead with the wedding, in another church.

The man, Mr Israel Kennedy, was to wed his wife, former Miss Rose, in an Assemblies of God Church at 158 Ikot Ekpene road in Aba, but the wedding was cancelled because the wife-to-be was discovered to be pregnant, by the church, a few hours to the wedding.

This made the board of the church to cancel the wedding in accordance with the laws establishing the church which totally forbids pregnancy before marriage.

Israel Kennedy and his lover were also suspended and fined by the church for defaulting in the church’s law.

The cancellation left the couple and their guests disappointed as they had already spent a huge amount of money to prepare for the wedding and reception.

But supported by his friends, family members and his in-laws, Mr Kennedy and his wife got a new church in the Enyimba city where they were joined together as husband and wife.

The new church (name withheld) agreed to wed the man and his wife based on its own constitution.

The church weds such couples once the traditional marriage rites have been completely performed.

According to a friend of the couple, Uche Simeon, “the man and his wife are now happy that they have become husband and wife.

“The embarrassment of last Sunday has been wiped away and they are not even bothered about any more sanctions from their original church.”

Following the affirmation of Governor Abdullahi Sule as the authentic winner of the 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State, the Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday called on the Supreme Court to carefully review the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal.

The state election petitions tribunal had, on October 2, sacked Sule of the All Progressives Congress and declared David Ombugadu of the PDP as the winner of the election.

The appellate court held that the tribunal acted wrongly when it re-computed votes and made the declaration that returned the PDP candidate as the winner of the election and affirmed Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the state governor.

PDP women leader in the state, Stella Oboshi while speaking at the end of a peaceful protest held against the judgment in Lafia, the state capital, appealed to the apex court to thoroughly look into the appeal court’s judgment in the interest of upholding the ideals of democracy in Nigeria.

She expressed concern that the judgment fell short of real democratic principles that govern the nation while expressing worry over the decision of the appeal court, which seemed to shield the insincerity of the Independent National Electoral Commission in its declaration of Sule as the duly elected governor of the state.

She highlighted specific instances of irregularities that were overlooked by the court under the guise of technicalities, saying that in the Gayam ward of Lafia Local Government Area, the total number of accredited voters was 13,000 while an astonishing 33,000 votes were given to the APC alone.

She added, “Similarly, in the Chiroma ward, the number of accredited voters was documented as 21,000 but INEC announced a staggering 59,000 votes solely for the APC.”

She said it was the responsibility of the judiciary to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and merit in all its judgments, stressing that in this particular case, the lack of a thorough investigation into the glaring irregularities is an affront to these principles.

”It undermines the trust of the people in the justice system” she insisted.

The PDP chieftain believes it is essential that the judiciary, as a pillar of democracy, does not inadvertently provide a platform for the perpetration of electoral injustice and expressed displeasure over the undue brutalisation of some women supporters of the party on Monday by security personnel in the state.

She urged the security agencies to desist from harassing members and supporters of the party while reiterating that they had carried out their protests peacefully.

She said they have been demonstrating peacefully for over six months since the declaration of Governor Abdullahi Sule by INEC as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state, pointing out that they have never destroyed anything or shown any act of disobedience to the laws of the country.

The woman leader insisted that who they voted for was not the person INEC announced and wanted justice to prevail but lamented that security agents brutalized some of the women for embarking on a peaceful protest.

She called on security agencies to protect the women and not attack them because their intention for embarking on the peaceful protest was to seek justice and not to foment any form of trouble in the state.

President Bola Tinubu is set to depart Abuja on Wednesday, for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to attend the COP28 Climate Summit.

The summit is tagged the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28).

At the World Leaders’ Summit, which takes place on December 1 and 2, 2023, under the theme, “Unite, Act, and Deliver,” President Tinubu will deliver a national statement, highlighting Nigeria’s stance on various thematic issues, including renewable energy and climate financing.

Mindful of the severe impact of climate change on Nigeria, such as desertification, flooding, erosion, drought, and national security risks arising therefrom, President Tinubu will maximize the opportunity afforded by the platform to advocate increased financial and technical support for developing nations.

Tinubu will use the opportunity to remind developed countries of their public pledge to provide $100 billion annually for support to localized initiatives to address climate change-related challenges.

The President’s message will also focus on holding businesses and institutions accountable, reflecting Nigeria’s dedication to sustainable and responsible practices.

The Nigerian delegation to COP28 will actively explore establishing new and deeper bilateral partnerships to implement Nigeria’s Energy Transition, Article 6 Projects, Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs), Technology Transfer, Capacity Building, and Methane Mitigation.

While in Dubai, President Tinubu will actively participate in key side events, which will further support the advancement of his avowed commitment to aggressively attract foreign direct investment for enhanced wealth creation and revenue expansion in the country, in addition to other events hosted by the Nigerian delegation.

The President, who will be accompanied by senior government officials, is expected to return to Abuja at the conclusion of the summit, a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity noted.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has condemned the dissolution of the executives of the party in Rivers State.

Eze, in a statement on Saturday, alleged that the development was part of a plot to embarrass former Rivers governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

Eze noted that President Bola Tinubu and the party’s National Chairman, Umar Ganduje, plotted the scheme to hand over the state chapter of the party to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and write off Amaechi and his team, notwithstanding the “wars the latter fought to prune and nurture the party to its sustainable status”.

He reminded those he called the cabal to be wary of Wike, who he described as a political chameleon.

“I am happy to note that both Tinubu and Ganduje have suffered and tested the bitter pills of Wike in most of his attempts to decimate the party and to handover the party structure to him and his agents is nothing but sheer wickedness and unreasonableness, because it will definitely backfire.

“It is however unfortunate that all the appointments so far made by Tinubu and his government have only favored Wike, who fought Rivers APC to a standstill with the resource of the state at their peck and call,” he said.

Eze called on Ganduje and the national leadership of the party to note that their action could be prejudicial as the dissolution of the state exco is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction, before which an ex parte motion was also filed praying that parties maintain status quo – which means shelving the inauguration of the interim committee

The Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Feb. 22, 2024, for hearing in the suit challenging the appointment of Mr Ola Olukoyede as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Obiora Egwuatu stated this on Wednesday after the parties agreed that the date was convenient for all.

When the matter was called, the plaintiff, Mr Victor Opatola, a lawyer who chose to represent himself, told the court that he had received the preliminary objections to the suit from the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Opatola, however, said he had yet to receive any process from the National Assembly (NASS) and the EFCC chairman.

The counsel representing NASS, Mr Israel Obaniyi told the court that the legal department of the Assembly passed the information to his team only on Tuesday.

He said he would peruse the brief and file his response before the next adjourned date.

The EFCC lawyer, Mr R.O Adakole also told the court that he would also put his house in order before the next adjourned date.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until Feb. 22, 2024.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Opatola, an Abuja-based lawyer had dragged the federal government, NASS and Attorney-General to court over alleged illegal appointment of Olukoyede, as the Chairman of EFCC.

NAN also reports that the lawyer in the suit was challenging the validity of the appointment of the EFCC chairman.

The lawyer asked the court to determine whether by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2 (1) (a) of the EFCC Act 2004, Olukoyede, who had not fulfilled the conditions of the Act, could be validly appointed as the EFCC chairman.

He also asked the court to determine whether by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2(1)(a) of the EFCC Act 2004, the person appointed to the office of the chairman of the EFCC could be said to be above the rank of assistant commissioner of police or its equivalent.

It was an emotional moment for students and teachers in Taraba State as the remains of the recently murdered teacher, Bassey Sardauna Nkuphee were laid to rest in Jalingo, the state capital.

It would be recalled that Nkuphee, a teacher with Model Secondary School, Jalingo, was recently stabbed to death by some of his students.

The student’s action compelled the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), to ground academic activities in secondary schools in the state.

Nkuphee who was laid to rest in his family compound in Abuja phase ll in Jalingo metropolis, was said to be heading home from school when the incident happened.

Mourners, especially the slain teacher’s colleagues, tasked security operatives to ensure that the suspects behind the gruesome murder were fished out.

They also urged the government to take responsibility for the welfare of his aged parents, his wife and three children.

The Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Dr Ishaku Kazon, who observed that the deceased teacher was the breadwinner of his family, urged the relevant authority to extend help to the family members.

Some teachers and students who spoke to our reporter described the deceased as one of the best teachers in the school.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has responded to claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC), that it will take the state from him in the next election.

Since Senator Ifeanyi Ubah joined the APC, the party has been exuding confidence about winning the state in 2025 governorship election.

The state chairman of the party, Mr Basil Ejidike had in a recent interview, stated that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would die a natural death when APC takes the state in 2025.

But reacting to such claims, Soludo in a press release signed by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, said no other party, not even APC which he claims does not exist in the state, would be able to displace APGA.

The release stated that: “APC doesn’t exist in Anambra State. Anambra State is APGA land and will forever remain APGA land because the people have come to accept the All Progressives Grand Alliance as their own political movement and there is absolutely nothing the APC or other opposition parties can do about it.

“We have been hearing what Basil Ejidike, the state chairman of APC in Anambra has been saying. It’s like he is not part of the people living in Anambra State. He keeps saying that Soludo has done nothing; maybe he must have been going around blindfolded.

“There is no basis for comparing Ebonyi and Anambra because Ebonyi has been a state that was under a governor for 8 years. Soludo is just two years in office and look at what he has done so far. He can even match up to other states where a governor has been there for 8 years.

“In less than two years, Soludo has turned the entire state into a construction site and it is only a blind man that will say he is not seeing what Soludo is doing in Anambra State. But our consolation lies in the fact that Ndi-Anambra are happy with what Soludo is doing and they are ready to support him.

“There are roads for him to see. There are other infrastructures for him to see. There are so many things Soludo is doing and every normal human being is seeing them. Something must be wrong with Basil Ejidike. He needs to check his entire psychological being to ensure that he is actually a normal person.

“Let me tell Basil Ejidike that Anambra is APGA land and Ndi-Anambra will forever support APGA because APGA is naturally our party,” the release stated.

A 20-year-old wife, Amina Hassan, of Mubi North LGA, Adamawa State, has set her husband’s house ablaze for refusing to divorce her.

Amina Hassan, from Shuware community in Mubi North, who married Muhammed Auwal about five weeks ago, revealed that there was a pre-wedding arrangement that the man would divorce her shortly after their marriage ceremony.

She informed the police that she had set the house on fire because of her husband’s refusal to end their union, according to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Nguroje.

“We made an arrangement that he would divorce me after the marriage. I met him and pleaded with him to divorce me, but he remained adamant.

“He descended on me and started beating me instead of divorcing me, as a result of which I lost my temper and set the house ablaze,” she told police operatives who are now investigating her.

.ng gathered on Tuesday that a few days before the wedding, Amina had informed her parents that she was no longer interested in the marriage.

However, her parents insisted there was no turning back as they had already distributed invitation cards.

Sources close to her said that after all her efforts failed, she sought help from a native doctor to turn her husband’s heart away from her, only for the husband to appear more interested.

To escape her anger, the native doctor is said to have fled Mubi and made his phone number inaccessible.

As residents of Imo State file out for today’s election, there are fears that insecurity and loss of confidence in the electoral process might force eligible voters not to participate in the exercise.

.ng reports that Imo has been facing activities of unknown gunmen and other non-state actors for over three years, a situation believed to be a major threat to today’s election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it registered 2,419,922 persons for the election, out of which 2,318,919 have collected their PVCs.

Seventeen candidates are seeking to unseat the incumbent Governor, Hope Uzodinma of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, who is seeking a second term.

However, only two are viewed as real threats to his reelection.

Political analysts and development experts in the state have predicted how the incumbent governor and two other frontline candidates will share 2.3 million votes.

Prof Uche Amadi, a university lecturer, told DaiLY POST that the chances of voter apathy are high owing to two major factors: insecurity and a lack of trust in INEC.

He explained that there will certainly be voter apathy for two reasons: “the people may not want to risk their lives coming out to exercise their franchise, especially in crisis-ridden areas of Orsu, Orlu, Oru-east, Okigwe, Ehime-Mbano, etc., where several cases of killings, kidnappings, arson, and other vices have been recorded.”

He added that the people believe that the electoral umpire is compromised and will eventually do the bidding of the ruling party by declaring the APC winner of the election.

However, of the 17 gubernatorial candidates struggling for Imo State’s soul, the pendulum, according to the experts, is swinging towards Uzodinma, Senator Athan Achonu of Labour Party (LP) and Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Senator Achonu, the LP Governorship Candidate is considered by Imo residents as a strong contender in the race and may not only be running on Obi’s wave but also his commitment to common good.

Achonu is referred to as the “One Arm General.”

His ‘aku ruoulo’ (invest home) plan has resulted in many industrial farms, making him the most likely of the competitors as the largest investor in Imo State.

Achonu supports the active involvement of local government, citing it as the root cause of instability.

Based on the overwhelming support Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate, received in the state, Achonu contended that Imo belongs to the Labour Party.

Obi’s recent visit alongside the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, to Kanu Nwankwo Sports’ Complex in Owerri was a boost to Achonu’s campaign.

Meanwhile, PDP’s Senator Samuel Anyanwu, also known as Samdaddy, is another strong contender aiming to clinch the Imo seat for his party for the third time.

Senator Anyanwu expressed confidence in defeating Governor Uzodinma.

Having served as a senator, member of the House of Representatives, chairman of a local government, and party official, he is perhaps the most seasoned candidate.

His party, PDP, is probably his worst weakness, as well as his greatest strength. A lot of people are still angry with him for edging out Chief Emeka Ihedioha from the contest, and they are not making an effort to assist him in his pursuits.

The majority of the party chieftains in his senatorial district, Owerri zone, are currently working for Governor Uzodinma.

A political analyst based in Owerri, Barr Stanley Emana is of the view that the attack on the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Owerri is not good for the governor.

In the next few hours, it will be seen how any of the candidates will navigate through the odds against them.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, has said the commission has no preferred candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States.

Yakubu said INEC is not a political party; hence has no candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in the three states.

In a message on Friday, the INEC Chairman cautioned staff members of the commission against interfering in Saturday’s election, stressing that electorates should be allowed to decide their governors.

Yakubu also said 5,169,692 Nigerians who collected their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) are expected to vote.

He added that this is the first time in the country’s history that these elections are held on the same day and across three geo-political zones of the country.

He called on INEC officials, regular and ad-hoc, to demonstrate the highest level of patriotism and professionalism during the elections.

According to Yakubu: “As I said repeatedly, not least during my recent readiness assessment visits to the three States, INEC is not a political party and we have no candidate in the election.

“Our responsibility is to safeguard the process and ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. The choice of who becomes the Governor of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States is entirely in the hands of voters.

“Polling Unit results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. All election duty officials have been trained.

“Arrangements have been made for land and maritime transportation to enable us commence voting on schedule.

“In spite of the extremely difficult terrain and physical infrastructure in some locations, we are determined to ensure that our officials are there waiting for voters rather than the voters waiting for our arrival.”

EFCC Arraigns 11 Undergraduates for Alleged Internet Fraud

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, November 6, 2023 arraigned eleven students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State for their alleged involvement in internet fraud.

The defendants were arraigned on different count charges, ranging from one to six charges as preferred against them by the EFCC.

They are: Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, Daniel Olashile Maiye, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji and Okesipe Tobiloba Paul.

Nine of the defendants were arraigned on one -count charge each, while the remaining two: Micah and Obaro had six count- charges filed against each of them.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah sometimes in 2023 in Osogbo, Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonated the name – Pies through your Whatsapp account phone number +1(414)367-9473 by claiming that you are an American Female in love with your victims in the United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

Another count reads, “That you, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro on or about 1st November, 2023 at Ile-Ife, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by name Alex Stephens from United States of America to one Megan Johnson, through your Google Chat and your email address (alexsteps678@gmail.com) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

Upon their arraignments, they all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.

Consequently, prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni prayed the court for trial dates and the remand of the defendants at a Correctional Centre.

In response, defence counsels to Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe informed the court of “motions for bail applications” filed on behalf of their clients which have been served on the prosecution, therefore urging the court to admit the six defendants to bail in the most liberal terms.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, having listened to the prayers of both parties, admitted Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe to bail.

Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Adeleye and Okesipe were admitted to bail in the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira only) each while Micah was granted bail in the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira only).

Other bail conditions are: two sureties in like sum, first surety must be the defendant's father or mother, second surety must be a relative, sibling, clergy or civil servant with the Osun State Government; the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means and both residential and office addresses of the sureties, as well as their statuses must be provided and verified by the court registrar.
The judge adjourned the matters to November 29 and December 12, 2023 respectively for commencement of trial and remanded the defendants at the Ilesha Correctional Centre, Osun State pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The defendants were among the sixty-nine (69) suspected internet fraudsters arrested on Wednesday, November 01, 2023 at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife in Osun State following actionable intelligence on their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.

The Federal Government has allocated N15 billion for the comprehensive repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, according to details from the recently passed N2.18 trillion 2023 supplementary budget.

Also, the government has stated that it owes contractors of the Eko/Marine Bridges N11.4 billion.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, in a statement announced that the Third Mainland Bridge would be closed for five weeks of repairs starting on Monday, November 6, 2023.

“Given the above, the motoring public is now notified that the repair works will commence with the ramps connecting Oworoshoki to Adekunle and Lagos-Island (Adeniji Adele) to Adekunle simultaneously.

“Consequently, the two ramps mentioned above will be closed to traffic by 7 am on Monday, November 6, 2023, for five weeks.”

Meanwhile, during the supplementary budget defense of the Ministry of Works, the Minister, Senator Dave Umahi, lamented the continued collapse of bridges across the country.

“Our story on road infrastructure is a very pathetic one. When I came on board, we inherited 18,897 road kilometers, totaling N14tn; within the time I came on board, about N3.1tn had been paid, leaving a total certificate of N1.6 trillion.”