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The Alimosho Local Government Council, Lagos has dragged the State House of Assembly before a Federal High Court, Abuja alleging undue and illegal interference in its activities.

In a copy of the summon obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, the Council asks the court to hold that the Assembly and the Speaker has no constitutional power to perform oversight functions over its activities.

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The plaintiff urged the court to hold that the state assembly cannot act as oversight over a democratically elected executive of a local government that has its own democratically elected legislative council.

Co-plaintiff in the suit is the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Sulaimon Jelili, while the respondents included the State Assembly, the Speaker, Attorney-General of Lagos State, Inspector-General of Police, Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the State Security Service.

The plaintiffs, in the suit filed by their lawyer, Dr Abdul Mahmud said the essential kernel of the case was to assert the autonomy and independence of local governments, pursuant to the recent decision of the Supreme Court.

“The point the suit emphasises is that local governments are not executive agencies of the Lagos state government that the Speaker, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, can exercise oversight functions over.

“The local government, as a separate arm of government, has its legislative arm that rightly regulates those areas like markets that the Constitution has donated powers,” they contended

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On the facts of the suit, the plaintiffs alleged that the Assembly, led by Speaker Obasa, vide a resolution dated Aug. 27, instructed the Chairman of the local government to disengage one of the Council’s contractors, Mr. Omotolani Adedayo.

Adedayo was contracted by the Council for collection of market tolls.

In the resolution, the Assembly directed the Council that, after disengaging Adedayo, it should enter into a formal contractual agreement with one Mr. Ejigbadero Abiodun.

The Speaker allegedly threatened that, if the Council Chairman refused to comply with the
resolution and the directive of the house, he would be suspended.

In an affidavit deposed to, by the Secretary of Alimoso Council, Dare Ogunkoya, he said, the Council Chairman is constitutionally saddled with the duties and functions for establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets, parks and garages within its jurisdiction.

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Ogunkoya said that his constituents had, on numerous occasions, approached the council that they did not want the said Abiodun, being imposed by the Assembly, to collect tolls in the market.

He said the complaint by the constituents was communicated to the Assembly through a letter dated Sept. 4 by the plaintiffs.

According to him, the action of the Assembly amounted to intimidation and usurpation of powers of the Council Chairman.

The plaintiffs therefore sought the court declaration that, by the combined reading and interpretation of Sections 7 and Item 1(e) of the fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, they are the only body permitted by the constitution to establish, maintain and regulate markets within their jurisdiction.

They sought the court declaration that the resolution of the Assembly is null and void for having no basis in law.

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The plaintiffs also urged the court to declare that the Assembly has no constitutional powers to suspend the Council Chairman.

They urged the court to restrain the defendants from suspending the Council Chairman.

Speaking with NAN, Mahmud, the plaintiffs lawyer said the court processes had been served on all the respondents, but no date has been fixed for its hearing.

The lawyer noted that the resolution of the matter would set another precedent in the nation’s Jurisprudence, as it relates to Local Government autonomy.

“The suit is coming on the heels of the recent Supreme Court decision in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024 AG Federation V AG Abia State & 35 Ors which granted autonomy to local government.

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“The existence and independence of the Local Government is still under threat from various quarters.

‘The Court’s interpretation of the questions put before it, will further strengthen earlier decisions on the autonomy of local government” he said.

Meanwhile, NAN reports that the House of Assembly on Monday suspended the embattled Council Chairman, indefinitely

The decision, which was reportedly reached during Monday’s plenary session, came after lawmakers voted unanimously to remove Sulaimon over allegations of misconduct and defiance of the legislative House.

The Vice Chairman of the Council, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson, was directed to assume control of the council’s affairs.

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Reacting to the development, however, Mahmud said the purported suspension of his client was unconstitutional and constituted blatant affront on the recent decision of the Supreme Court which affirmed the autonomy of local government under the 1999 Constitution.

He added that the action of the legislative house and the Speaker, when they had been served with the court document, is subjudice, and a deliberate attempt to ambush and foist helplessness on the court.

The lawyer assured that the coercive actions of the Speaker and the encroachment of the Assembly on the constitutional powers of the local government, would be resisted within the bounds of laws.(NAN)

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Thirteen-year-old Boy dies after ‘attempting viral Social Media stunt

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Thirteen-year-old Boy dies after ‘attempting viral Social Media stunt

A Southern California family is mourning the loss of their 13-year-old son, Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., who they believe died after participating in a dangerous social media challenge similar to a past trend that claimed multiple young lives.

The teen was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Murrieta on the morning of February 3, just a day after spending time with his family watching the Grammy Awards.

When his parents discovered him, his mother immediately began performing CPR while his father, Nnamdi Ohaeri Sr., sought help from a neighbor and called emergency services.

Despite their efforts, the boy was later pronounced dead. While initial signs suggested the possibility of suicide, his parents were unconvinced and began their own investigation. They soon learned that their son may have been influenced by a hazardous social media challenge circulating among his peers.

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The challenge, similar to the infamous “Blackout Challenge,” reportedly dares participants to render themselves unconscious. This trend has been linked to several deaths in recent years, prompting warnings from parents and authorities alike.

However, Ohaeri Jr. had no social media accounts, and his phone was equipped with strict parental controls, leading his parents to believe he learned about the challenge from classmates or friends.

The grieving parents now hope their son’s story will serve as a wake-up call for other families. They urge parents to be vigilant about the content and trends their children may encounter, whether online or through peer interactions.

Ohaeri Sr. reflected on the tragedy, acknowledging that while he had been proactive in discussing topics like drugs with his sons, he hadn’t considered the dangers of social media challenges.

“We don’t talk about not following social media trends or playing social media games,” he said. “And maybe we need to.”

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In the aftermath of their son’s death, the family is left grappling with guilt and unanswered questions. “I’m going through the Rolodex of guilt now, wondering if we checked in enough or if I should have been less strict years ago,” Ohaeri Sr. shared.

The family hopes their heartbreaking experience will encourage other parents to have open conversations with their children about the hidden risks of social media and peer pressure.

Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death, and it remains unclear whether the incident is being investigated as a suicide or an accidental result of the social media challenge. The Murrieta Police Department has not provided further details on the case.

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Several gunmen neutralised as Military personnel hit suspected Bandits in major ambush

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Several people neutralised as Military personnel hit suspected Bandits in major ambush

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) soldiers have killed a number of bandits in Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA), Zamfara State, in a decisive operation that involved targeted airstrikes.

The strike came after a well-planned intelligence operation, according to a report from “Zagazola Makama,” one of the top counter-insurgency publications in the Lake Chad region.

According to sources, the robbers had left Tsafe LGA and were thought to be connected to the notorious bandit boss Ado Aliero.

Their mission was to rustle cattle from nearby communities, a crime they successfully carried out before attempting to escape with the stolen livestock.

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However, their retreat was cut short when they encountered resistance from local security forces. As the bandits moved into a mountainous area, security forces, tracking their movements, set up an ambush. Upon confirming the bandits’ location, the Nigerian Air Force was promptly alerted.

With precision, air assets were deployed to engage the fleeing bandits. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that numerous bandits were neutralized, though the precise death toll remained unverified at the time of the report.

Sources further revealed that at least 23 bandits were killed, with several others suffering injuries. Additionally, a significant number of rustled cattle were recovered by the troops, dealing a severe blow to the criminal operation in the region.

This successful strike underscores the growing effectiveness of coordinated intelligence and military operations in the ongoing fight against banditry and insurgency in northern Nigeria.

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President Tinubu’s Minister takes on Ganduje as fesh crisis rocis APC

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President Tinubu’s Minister takes on Ganduje as fesh crisis rocis APC

The Minister of State for Housing, Yusuf Abdullahi Atta, has cautioned the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje against any attempts to allow the current Chairman of the APC in Kano to continue in office for a fourth term.

The Minister was quoted to have warned that any attempt to gives the current Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Abbas another chance, would lead to serious crises in the party.

The Minister issued the threats at a caucus meeting in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano, on Saturday.

The Minister said, “we will not take it lightly with anybody trying to return Abdullahi Abbas to office after the expiration of his tenure, because it violates the constitution of the party”.

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“We would not accept the Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas to be imposed on us for the fourth term, this will surely result in us decamping immediately from the party”, he threatened.

“We are saying loud and clear, I swear if Abdullahi Abbas is given another chance all of us will decamp from the party and APC will crash and lose 2027, this is my message to anybody who cares to listen”.

Yusuf Atta alleged that the arrogant and misguided disposition of Abdullahi Abbas as state Chairman is among the many negative tendencies that crippled and made the party to lost power in 2023.

“And up till today, the same person has not changed, therefore we are strongly warning that in any case and anyhow Abdullahi Abbas is given another chance everyone should consider the Party losing 2027.

” We were given good training by our parents and we know who God is, we never dare him but this man doesnt know that, therefore with him as Chairman APC is a foregone party in Kano.”

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Atta said in 2023, APC won the governorship contest with Gawuna and Sule Garo as candidate and deputy but that Anti God remarks of Abdullahi Abbas truncated their victory.

There are reports that the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje is planning on reimposing Abdullahi Abbas to continue as the state chairman of the party for the fourth term.

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