His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Kusenla III), has debunked the misinformation going round in a section of the media, over the purported withdrawal of security details attached to him.

In a statement Friday signed by Otunba Temitope Oyefeso, the popular Monarch’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, he stated that contrary to the peddled misinformation, it is pertinent to note that this routine shuffling of security aides by the police authorities is not unusual and does not have any political meaning.

“The police authorities informed the palace of a possible change in personnel and sought the understanding of His Royal Majesty,” the statement reads in part.

With this understanding, the replacement of the security detail was done at this time, since the popular monarch is on a short visit outside the country, after which he is expected to perform lesser hajj at the holy land.”

The Palace of His Royal Majesty enjoined the public to kindly disregard any insinuation as it relates to the motive of this routine police operation.

The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has vowed to expose the leadership style of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Her declaration comes after she was referred to the Senate’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee following a confrontation with Akpabio over a seating arrangement dispute.

Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that she was ready to appear before the committee but insisted that the proceedings should be open to the public rather than conducted behind closed doors.

She made this known in a post on her Instagram account, calling for a live broadcast of the probe.

“Good morning, courageous people of Kogi Central, Kogi State, and Nigeria,” she wrote. “Inasmuch as I have refrained from publicly speaking on the matter and a lot of occurrences at the Senate under Senate President Akpabio, it’s about time I break my silence.

“Arise News, set a date, and I shall be in your studio in person. Spare no questions.

“And to Nigerians, please be sure to join the probe, which I shall insist would be covered live. The next few days and weeks shall be interesting but will shape the standard and quality of Nigeria’s leadership.”

The senator’s reaction followed a petition filed against her by the Northern Youths Advocacy for Excellence to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

The petition accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of corruption, abuse of power, and mistreatment of staff within the Senate Committee on Local Content, which she chairs.

The petition urged the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions to conduct a thorough investigation into her alleged “illegal, subversive, and intimidating activities” and impose necessary disciplinary measures.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has, however, maintained her innocence and insisted on transparency, promising to speak openly about the allegations and other issues within the Senate leadership.

Trouble started last week when the female Kogi lawmaker confronted the Senate President over the relocation of her seat at the Senate.

In the heated exchange of words, Akpabio called on the Senate security to walk Akpoti-Uduaghan out of the chambers.

Intervention by other senators, however, saved the day. But the Senate, in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, berated Akpoti-Uduaghan for standing up to the Senate President, reminding her that the Senate is not for entertainment.

On Tuesday, the Kogi lawmaker filed a N100.3bn defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and others.

The Punch

Thirty-six of the 40-member Lagos House of Assembly have resolved to stand firmly behind the Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.

The decision of the 36 members, who gathered at the assembly garden on Thursday afternoon, followed the ousted Obasa’s forceful takeover of the office of the speaker.

The lawmakers, who had earlier on February 17, passed a vote of confidence on Meranda, dared all consequences to stand by their earlier decision.

A lawmaker who pleaded anonymity, said he and his other colleagues are resolved to ensure that their decision to remove Obasa stands.

“He was not elected speaker from his constituency. We all endured his master-slave relationship for close to 10 years. Now, we have said enough is enough and we are not looking back,” the lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, two out of 39 other lawmakers, Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly called, Osmak, representing Mushin Constituency 1, and Noheem Adams, representing Mushin Constituency II, have been spotted accompanying Obasa to the complex.

As at the time of filing this report, the doors to the office of the Speaker had been forced open by Obasa loyalists, with huge-chestesd men scattered over strategic places in the complex.

Also, some armed men, who accompanied Obasa to the complex were seen making threatening remarks, and vowing to take possession of all the offices in the complex.

The access roads to the complex have been taken over by people suspected to be Obasa’s loyalists who arrived the scene in unmarked Kombi buses .

Motorists are being forced to drive through alternative routes as all entrances have been blocked to traffic.

Details later..