News

Uproar In Senate Over Oshiomhole’s Looting Comment

Published

2 years ago

July 26, 2023

… As Lawmakers Ask Oshiomhole To Apologise

There was a mild drama in the Senate, yesterday, during plenary session as the lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola, accused his colleague from the Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, of alleging that Senators in the 9th National Assembly looted their offices, carting away office furniture and equipment.

Oshiomhole, who spoke when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, had said that in spite of the presence of security operatives, television sets, carpets and chairs were looted by the immediate past senators and House of Representatives members.

The comment, however, led to a rowdy session in the Senate when the matter was raised during plenary.

Trouble started when Senator Adeola, who is the Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a Point of Order to express his displeasure over a television interview reportedly granted by Senator Oshiomhole.

Adeola called on Senator Oshiomhole to apologize to the Senate over his comment.

The lawmaker said: “A Senator appeared on the television addressing Nigerians that Senators in the 9th assembly looted their offices, chairs and tables were looted.

“He was addressing Nigerians about this Senate and knowing full well that a Senator cannot move anything outside the National Assembly without the approval.

“If anything you move is not in compliance and without the approval of the National Assembly, your severance allowances will not be paid. No Senator has looted and I feel that he has to apologise to the Senate for making such comments.”

On his part, Senator Adamu Aliero, who represents Kebbi Central Senatorial District, supported Adeola adding that Oshiomhole should tender an apology.

Aliero said: “The statement is misleading; I served in the 9th Assembly. The person should apologize.”

At this point, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, (APC, Borno South) through a point of order moved that the Senate should resolve into a closed-door session to brainstorm on what he described as a very sensitive issue.

When the motion to go into the closed-door session was put to a voice vote, Senators opted that the matter be discussed in plenary by voting “nay”.

To douse the tension in the chamber, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, said: “Our colleague is new, he is not aware of the tradition of the Senate. I know anybody can make mistake and I know he will apologize for this mistake. Over 70 per cent are new in the 10th Assembly.”

In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio called on the former Edo state governor to approach the chair.

After a brief talk with Oshiomhole, Akpabio called on the former APC chairman to state his side of the matter.

Oshiomhole, who was thereafter given the floor, said he has huge respect for the National Assembly adding that he indeed appeared on a respected national television station but said he defended the collective integrity of the Senate.

He said: “I have huge respect for each and every Senator not only in the 10th Assembly but every Senator because I know what it takes to win an election.

“I didn’t address the social media; I spoke with a respected TV station. The question was put to me by the TV host as to what justified the appropriation for the comfort of the National Assembly.

“That allegation against the Senate, in my opinion, I was defending the integrity of the Senate. I know we didn’t appropriate the funds for comfort. I want to repeat that I have huge respect for people in this Senate and not only in the 10th Senate but any Senator, as far as 1999, because I know the road to this place is not easy.

“At no time did I say Senators looted their offices. I only said offices were vandalised and that many Senators had to use their personal money to purchase basic items for their offices.

“I was defending the erroneous impression out there that we appropriated money to ourselves.”

Recall that the former Edo State Governor, Senator Oshiomhole had expressed shock over what he called the level of vandalisation of the properties of the National Assembly by former lawmakers.
VANGUARD

News

Back To School: Lions Club Distributes Educational Materials In Edo Schools

Published

54 minutes ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

The Benin Etete Unique and Edo Heritage Lions of the International Association of Lions Club on Friday jointly distributed educational materials to two schools in Benin City as part of the association corporate services to humanity.

The two clubs in District 404-A4 Lions Nigeria, jointly carried out the distribution of notebooks, maths sets, school bags and sandals, pens and other writing materials to excited pupils in Ivbioba Primary School and Oghede-Ivioba Primary School, Ugbighoko, Egor Local Government Area, and Evbiyenava Primary School, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

Themed, Back to School Project, pupils were also engaged in Reading Action Program (RAP) and Spelling Bee Competition, after which winners were presented with special prizes.

In their remarks, Lions Darlington Uyi and Franca Nikoro, presidents of Benin Etete Unique and Edo Heritage Lions Clubs stated that the vision of the Lions International is to serve humanity.

They, therefore, tasked pupils on commitment to their studies in order to attain their fullest potentials in life.

“Emulate Lions in your visions for tomorrow. We have various professionals as members, and if you are committed to your studies, obedient to your parents and teachers, you will attain great heights,” Lion Uyi Darlinton Stated.

“Our vision is to serve, and we are here like we do every period to ensure Literacy is inculcated in pupils to enable them to attain their full potential. It is our earnest desire that you grow into well rounded personalities. Literacy is important in order to actualize that aspiration,” Franca Nikoro stated.

Earlier, in his address, Lion Sir Dede Henry Idemudia, Zone 6A Chairperson, tasked the pupils on good conduct, honour to parents and guardians and obedience to instructions of school authority.

News

NAFDAC Gives Nigerian Food Companies 18 Months To Cut Trans Fats

Published

2 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has set an 18-month grace period, effectively giving food companies until early 2026 before facing full enforcement of regulations to eliminate industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA).

The initiative, launched as a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for TFA regulation, moves Nigeria from simply having the policy to enforcing its world-class standard: a regulatory limit of no more than two grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of total fat or oil.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasised that the roadmap moves the country beyond policy creation to aggressive enforcement and implementation.

This was contained in the NAFDAC DG’s keynote speech posted on the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

Adeyeye stressed the moral imperative of the Agency’s mission.

“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.

“Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent,” Adeyeye stated, calling for national collaboration.

The moratorium period is designed to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock with outdated labels and reformulate their products to comply with the legal limit.

NAFDAC’s action targets a dangerous dietary risk factor strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature death globally.

Adeyeye emphasised the significance of the move beyond technical compliance, noting, “The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.”

This aggressive step builds upon Nigeria’s existing reputation; the country was recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2023 for adopting best-practice TFA elimination policies.

The new roadmap is key to securing WHO validation of Nigeria’s full TFA elimination programme, establishing the nation as a regional leader in public health interventions.

News

Mohbad’s Father Urges Lagos AG To Prosecute Wife, Nurse, Others

Published

2 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

Joseph Aloba, the father of late singer Mohbad, has urged the Lagos State government to initiate criminal proceedings against individuals named in the coroner’s inquest into his son’s death.

Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, following an injection administered by auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe.

Despite being buried the next day, public outcry and ongoing investigations led to the exhumation of his body on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy.

In a letter dated October 3 and addressed to the attorney general of Lagos State through his lawyers, Aloba demanded that criminal charges be filed against those indicted within 14 days.

“Specifically, we refer to persons indicted by the coroner’s verdict hereunder: Miss Ogedengbe Fisayo, indicted for unlawful medical practice and gross medical negligence; and Mrs. Omowunmi Aloba, indicted for negligence,” the letter reads.

“This includes Ibrahim Owodunni, a.k.a. Prime Boy, and others who either facilitated the invitation of the auxiliary nurse or refused to take him promptly to a recognised medical facility for treatment.”

Mohbad’s father said he was concerned that despite the coroner’s clear verdict, no prosecutorial steps had been taken against those indicted nearly three months after the judgment.

He asked the attorney general to exercise prosecutorial powers within the 14 days, or, in the alternative, grant him and his legal team a fiat to prosecute the matter on behalf of the state.

“Our Client, as a bereaved father desirous of ensuring that justice is done and seen to be done, is deeply concerned that notwithstanding the clear indictments contained in the Coroner’s Verdict, no prosecutorial steps have been taken against the aforementioned persons since the delivery of the Verdict on 11th July, 2025,” the letter reads.

“The judicial observations amount to clear indictments warranting the prosecution of the said individuals in order to give full effect to the Coroner’s findings and recommendations, and to ensure that justice is manifestly and adequately served in this matter.

“We request that you exercise your prosecutorial power on the above subject matter within 14 Days Next, in view of the high sensitivity of this matter and the public attention and outrage it has generated.”

In October 2023, Naira Marley and Sam Larry were arrested over allegations linking them to Mohbad’s death, but were released on bail after five weeks in detention.

By February 2025, a magistrate court cleared them of any involvement in the singer’s demise.