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Shuaibu: Obaseki duped me of $300,000 in guise of lobbying PDP leaders for ticket

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Philip Shuaibu, a former deputy governor of Edo State, has alleged that ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki defrauded him of $300,000.

In a recent interview with The Sun, Shuaibu claimed that Obaseki took the money under the pretense of lobbying party leaders ahead of their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“When the issue of moving to PDP arose and the debate was about what the party would gain, I told him to go ahead, even if it meant sacrificing the deputy governor slot,” Shuaibu stated.

He further revealed: “I contributed $300,000. He told me he was adding it to $700,000 to lobby leaders in Port Harcourt, but we later found out from the zonal PDP Chairman that no such money was given.”

Expressing frustration, Shuaibu added, “He duped me. It took me seven months to repay the money in installments. I had to raise the alarm because I was repaying a debt for money that was never used. Till today, he hasn’t returned it.”

He named key PDP figures, including Chief Dan Orbih and Ogbeide-Ihama, as witnesses to the situation.

Obaseki and Shuaibu were once political allies but have been embroiled in a prolonged political battle.

Their fallout began after the 2020 Edo State gubernatorial election when tensions over succession planning emerged. Shuaibu, who had been loyal to Obaseki, reportedly sought to succeed him in 2024, but Obaseki resisted the move. This led to public clashes, allegations, and Shuaibu’s impeachment in 2024.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the court later reinstated Shuaibu, declaring his removal unconstitutional. The ruling intensified the political crisis in Edo State, further widening the rift between the two former allies.

Despite Obaseki’s efforts to maintain political control, his anointed candidate, Asue Ighodalo, lost the Edo State governorship election to Monday Okpeboloh, the candidate of PDP.

The defeat marked a major political setback for Obaseki, further weakening his influence in the state’s political landscape.

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News and Report

Former Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate Jandor Set To Join APC

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March 17, 2025

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Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, a former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is reportedly set to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today (Monday).

According to The Nation, Jandor has finalised plans to defect to the APC just two weeks after resigning from the PDP.

Reports indicate that the former Lagos PDP chieftain will formally announce his defection at a scheduled press conference at his campaign office in Ikeja.

 

Jandor had recently held consultations with President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and other political figures following his resignation from the PDP.

 

His spokesperson, Gbenga Ogunleye, confirmed in a statement last Thursday that the meeting with the President took place on Monday.

 

The statement read, “I can confirm that Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran Jandor met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday (last week).

 

“He has earlier met with Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the SDP in the 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, among other prominent national leaders. It is part of his ongoing consultation after his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party.

 

“The National Secretary of the PDP and other leaders of the party also visited him recently to appeal for the reconsideration of his resignation from the PDP.

 

“Dr Adediran will meet with his political associates and critical stakeholders in Lagos over the weekend and address the media by Monday, 17th March 2025.”

 

Adediran was the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 Lagos State governorship election. He emerged as the party’s candidate after defeating other aspirants in the primaries.

 

Jandor, a former APC member and founder of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, had presented himself as a fresh alternative to the long-standing APC government in Lagos.

 

To bolster his chances and appeal to a broader electorate, he chose popular Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele as his running mate.

 

Akindele’s selection was strategic, aiming to leverage her massive influence in the entertainment industry and among Lagos’s youth and urban voters. However, their campaign faced significant challenges, including internal party conflicts.

 

Despite their efforts to present a strong opposition, the Jandor-Akindele ticket was unsuccessful in unseating the APC government. They finished behind both the incumbent governor, Sanwo-Olu, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party.

 

In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the March 18 Lagos governorship election.

 

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Otudeko: Court adjourns for settlement talks, as AG intervenes

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March 17, 2025

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A Federal High Court Lagos, on Monday, adjourned until May 8, for report of settlement in a suit against Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko and others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EFCC preferred a 13-count charge against Otudeko and a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya.
Also charged is a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
The N12.3 billion charge is marked FHC/L/20C/2025.
NAN reports that the case was earlier scheduled for arraignment on Jan. 20, but the defendants were absent on the grounds that the EFCC had not served them with any charge.
At the last adjourned date on Feb. 13, defence counsel had argued that the court ought to hear their preliminary objection to the suit.
First defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had cited plethora of authorities, raising objections to the charge.
Other defense counsel also made arguments before the court, each, citing authorities to persuade the court in favour of their respective applications.
The prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) on his part, had also responded to their application and had cited diverse authorities in support of arraignment of the defendants
The court had then reserved ruling to today.
Delivering ruling on Monday, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke held that it is now a settled principle of law , that the plea of a defendant must first be taken before an application.
The court relied on the authority of Onnoghen V FRN, Bello v FRN among others, and held that an arraignment must be taken before any application.
“The issue before the court is whether the processes before the court can be taken before the arraignment of the defendants.
“Any preliminary objection to the validity of a charge can only be heard after plea is taken; this iis now a condition precedent and this court is bound by the decision.
“I agree with learned counsel for the prosecuton, no preliminary objection can be taken without arraignment of the defendants.
“This is my view ” the court held.
After the courts ruling,  Olanipekun thanked the court and informed that parties are taking steps to arrive at a peaceful resolution.
He told the court that on March 12, counsel to all parties including the prosection, had convened a meeting under the auspices of the Attorney General.
He told the court that talks were on to arrive at a peaceful settlement of the case and urged the court to grant an adjournment for report of settlement.
Other defence counsel: Messrs Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Olumide Fusika (SAN), and Charles Adeosun-Phillips (SAN) also confirmed the position to the count
Defence Counsel urged the. court to grant an adjournment for report of the settlement talks.
Although counsel representing the prosecutor, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, urged the court to a adjourn for either report or arraigment, defence counsel argued that same should not be the case
Defence urged the court to help parties arrive at a peaceful settlement, by granting an adjournment for report of settlement so as not to prejudice the settlement talks.
Specifically, third defence counsel, Ogunwumiju, had told the court that the Attorney General had urged parties not to file further processes in the suit so as to foster settlement.
Defence unanimously urged the court to only adjourn for report of settlement.
The court consequently, adjourned the case to May 8, for report of settlement.

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PDP NWC meets in Abuja amid tight security

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5 days ago

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March 12, 2025

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Members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are currently meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The meeting, which is being held behind closed doors at the party’s national headquarters, is presided over by the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

This comes two days after the Supreme Court dismissed a motion for a stay of execution of a High Court judgment removing Senator Samuel Anyanwu from office as National Secretary and replacing him with Sunday Udeh-Okoye.

There was a heavy presence of security personnel, including operatives from the Department of State Services, DSS, the police, and the Civil Defence Corps, at the PDP headquarters in Abuja.

Earlier, party staff clashed with thugs and some members loyal to the embattled PDP National Secretary.

A PDP staff member who witnessed the clash and requested anonymity told journalists that the scuffle began when supporters of Samuel Anyanwu entered the party premises.

According to him, the pro-Anyanwu supporters attempted to lock out some members of the PDP National Working Committee who were arriving for their usual midweek meeting. However, they were overpowered by staff, private security guards, and some police officers attached to the secretariat.

The incident led to the deployment of additional security personnel to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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