News

ERA/FoEN Crisis: Nnimmo Bassey Removed As Board Of Trustees Chair

Published

6 years ago

October 8, 2020

The crisis rocking the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth got messier Wednesday as General Assembly of the organisation convened to announced the removal of Nnimmo Bassey as the Chairman, Board of Trustees.

In a resolution reached by the General Assembly of the organisation on October 7, 2020, in Benin City, Edo State capital, the Assembly also passed a vote of confidence on Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo as Executive Director of the organisation.

The Assembly led by Dr. Uyi Ojo, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, further warned the general public not to transact business with one Chima Williams who the Assembly said is parading himself as Acting Executive Director, ERA.

Quoting provisions of section 834(1) of the Companies Allied Matters Act 2020, the General Assembly in the resolution further “Vetted and approved the nomination and appointment of Chief Saint Emma Pii as chairman, Godwin Uyi Ojo as Secretary, and Jennifer Ero, as member of the environmental organisation.

Dr. Uyi Ojo, at the General Assembly yesterday.

” That Nnimmo Bassey has been removed as Trustee and chairman of the Board and is hereby removed and every step of illegality taken by him to undermine the interest of Environmental Rights Development Foundation (ERA/FoEN) is declared null and void.

” That Chima Williams who is parading himself as Acting Executive Director of ERA, be subjected to disciplinary actions within the ambit of the law. The public should take note that Chima Williams is not Executive Director of ERA and as such, no one should transact business with him”, the resolution read.

The General Assembly led by Uyi Ojo ordered closure of Lagos and Abuja offices of the ERA/FoEN until further directive from the Executive Director, Dr. Uyi.

Dr. Ojo lamented that since he became Executive Director, the Lagos and Abuja offices have been under the control of Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, adding that he access no access to cheque of the Foundation but being handled by Bassey and staff in Lagos and Abuja.

Recall in a press statement signed by Nnimmo Bassey as the Chairman of the board and five other members which was made available to newsmen on October 3rd, the board announced the sack of Dr Uyo Ojo as the Executive Director and appointed Chima Williams as the Executive Director.

” At its emergency meeting held on October 3, 2020, to discuss the report of the Independent evaluation of ERA/FoEN, the Board resolved that your services are no longer required and your appointment as the Executive Director is terminated with effect from October 3, 2020.

“The Board also prohibits you henceforth, from parading yourself in any manner, as representive of the organization or in any capacity as ERA Executive Director,” the statement reads.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.