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BUpdate : Benin court adjourns Igboho’s hearing till Monday, Says Banji Akintoye

Published

5 years ago

July 23, 2021

The Cour De’appal De Cotonou, Benin Republic, has adjourned the hearing of the case of Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, till Monday, the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, has said.

The group led by ex-Senator Banji Akintoye, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. The statement signed by the group’s Communications Manager, Maxwell Adeleye, was titled, ‘Update On Chief Sunday Adeyemo Ighoho’s Case In Republic Of Benin By Ilana Omo Oodua’

Our correspondent had earlier reported that the Beninise court ruled on Thursday that Igboho’s wife, Ropo, should be released unconditionally as there were no charges against her.

The court, however, ruled that Igboho bemanded in police custody till the next date of adjournment.

The two were arrested at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou on Monday while they tried to catch a flight to Germany. Igboho was earlier declared wanted by the Department of State Services for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he denied. The secret police had also raided his house, killed two of his associates and arrested about 12 of them.

In its statement, Ilana Oodua said, “Yesterday (Thursday), the court set Mrs. Adeyemo, lgboho’s wife free since it has been found that she has committed no offence and there’s no complain whatsoever against her. Consequently, her German passport was returned to her.

“The Lawyers handling the case reported after the proceedings that Chief Sunday Adeyemo lgboho cannot be extradited to Nigeria for two principal reasons:

“That contrary to insinuations, Nigeria and Benin have no Extradition Agreement.

“That Nigeria has not been able to come up with charges that could lead the court to order lgboho’s extradition to Nigeria.

“What Nigerian Government came up with were mere allegations against Ighoho such as trafficking in arms and inciting violence that could result in the social disturbance without evidence which the Government of Benin Republic considered spurious and untenable, and insufficient to warrant extradition.

“Lastly, the case has been adjourned till Monday 26th July to allow the Nigerian Government bring up whatever evidence they may have, and Mr. lgboho has been taken back to the police custody.”

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Reps Give Nod to Tinubu’s $516.33m Loan Request for Sokoto-Badagry Highway

Published

2 hours ago

April 29, 2026

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The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure a $516.33m loan from Deutsche Bank to finance Section I of the ambitious Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project, a key infrastructure initiative under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The approval followed the consideration of the President’s request by the Committee of Supply during plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

In a letter read on the floor of the Green Chamber, Tinubu described the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway as a transformative national project aimed at connecting Nigeria’s far northwest to its southwestern coastline through an approximately 1,000-kilometre dual carriageway stretching from Illela in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos State.

The corridor is expected to pass through Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, opening up major agricultural, commercial and industrial hubs across the country.

According to the President, the project was designed to stimulate economic growth by significantly improving the movement of goods and people across Nigeria’s northern and southern regions.

He said the highway will “improve north-south connectivity, safety and network performance on the corridor; reduce logistics costs and travel times by providing a continuous high-capacity expressway standard link to downstream markets and strengthen trade facilitation, food security and national cohesion through improved access between production zones, markets and ports.”

Tinubu further noted that the road project would “safeguard long-term intermodal flexibility by reserving the central median for future rail integration and accommodating utility corridors.”

The President explained that the funding arrangement involves a $516.33m facility from Deutsche Bank, backed by partial guarantee cover from the insurance arm of the Islamic Development Bank, while the Federal Government will provide counterpart funding of N265.54bn.

The counterpart contribution, he said, would cover land acquisition, compensation payments, and complementary infrastructure requirements.

Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite legislative approval of the borrowing request in view of the strategic importance of the project to national development.

The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway was conceived as one of Nigeria’s most expansive road infrastructure projects, intended to serve as an economic backbone linking the resource-rich northern corridor with major export gateways in the south.

Beyond easing transportation challenges, the superhighway is expected to boost agricultural supply chains, enhance regional trade, improve access to seaports, and attract investments in manufacturing, logistics and real estate along its route.

The project also aligns with broader government plans to modernise transport infrastructure and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.

Presenting the report of the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Abdullahi El-Rasheed, who represented the committee chairman, Abubakar Nalaraba, urged lawmakers to support the loan request, citing the project’s strategic economic value.

He said the highway would serve as a critical driver of development and improve long-term economic productivity.

Following deliberations, the House approved the borrowing request at plenary, paving the way for the commencement of the project’s first section.

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BREAKING: Faleke Obtains Tinubu’s Presidential Nomination Forms

Published

19 hours ago

April 28, 2026

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(L-R): Founder of Tinubu Support Group, James Faleke; APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu; and other APC officials during the presentation of nomination and expression of interest forms to Faleke for President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday.

The lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, has picked up the All Progressives Congress Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on behalf of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, on Tuesday in Abuja, declared the process open and presented the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to Faleke, who also serves as the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups.

Faleke’s collection and payment for the forms, valued at N100 million on behalf of the President, formally signal the commencement of Tinubu’s bid for re-election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The commission also announced that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.

INEC further stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026

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Gbajabiamila Endorses Hamzat, Says Lagos Is in Safe Hands

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2026

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The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has assured Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, of his support in securing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, gave the assurance on Sunday, describing Hamzat as competent and well-suited to lead Lagos State.

He stated that the state would be in safe hands under Hamzat’s leadership.

Hamzat had visited Gbajabiamila at his Surulere residence in Lagos as part of consultations with party stakeholders over his governorship ambition.

Responding, Gbajabiamila commended Hamzat’s capacity and approach, expressing confidence in his ability to govern the state effectively.

“Dr Hamzat, you are a man of honour, and it shows in your approach to consultations. But I say this publicly—you can take my support for granted because I have full confidence in your ability and capacity. My constituency, Surulere, is for you, and Lagos is for you,” he said.

In his remarks, Musiliu Obanikoro, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), briefed the host on the extent of consultations carried out so far.

“I can confidently inform the Chief of Staff that the level of endorsement has been overwhelming,” he said.

Other members of the delegation included the Secretary of the GAC, Alhaji Muti Are, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, Hon. Bode Oyedele, Engineer Adekunle Olayinka, Dr. Hakeem Shittu, Hon. Saheed Kekereekun, Dr. Jebe, and Hon. Rasaq Ajala, among others.

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