Author: Tunde Akingbondere

Blessing Agbebaku, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, on Wednesday said he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC, to retain his position as Speaker. We earlier reported that Agbebaku, representing Owan West constituency, who was elected on the platform of the PDP, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, defected to the APC. Officially informing the House of his defection during the plenary on Wednesday, Agbebaku said he defected to retain the benefits of the speakership position, for the development of his constituency. “I want to formally let this House know that yesterday,…

The trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice James Omotosho presiding. The prosecution tendered additional evidence to aid the claims that Kanu was involved in terrorism. A witness known named BBB, led by the prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo, resumed testimony. He spoke about a letter written by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the Department of State Services which accused Kanu of terrorism, murder and inciting violence against Nigerian security agencies. It was dated June 17, 2021, and was…

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Kayode Ajulo SAN, has reportedly withdrawn the cyber-bullying case filed against 3 executives of the Akoko Youth Forum, namely: James Akeju, Adediran Gabriel and Yaya Bisola.  The news of the withdrawal was made available in a statement made available to newsmen by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategic Communications, Allen Sowore Esq on 7th May, 2024. He said: “After a thorough review of the case, the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, has graciously agreed that the complaint against the…

The suspended Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against SaharaReporters and the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) at the State High Court, Ado-Ekiti Judicial Division, Ekiti State. The lawsuit is unconnected with the publication of sexual harassment allegations made against Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina by Engineer Mrs. Folasade Adebayo, a senior staff member at the university. Filed as Suit No. HAD/58/2025, the case lists Professor Fasina as the claimant, while Engineer Mrs. Adebayo, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ.ng), and SaharaReporters are named as the first, second, and third defendants,…

In a shocking turn of events, Dr. Akeredolu Oluwafemi Nehemiah, a member of the Ondo State Hospital Management Board and an aide to the incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has openly slammed the calls for the governor’s re-election. Citizen Rapporteur understands that he described these calls as ones for a “third term agenda,” thereby igniting a fierce debate in political circles in Ondo State’s political landscape. In a statement shared with journalists on Tuesday, Dr. Akeredolu, popularly known as Dr. Akeredolu O.N, articulated his concerns, declaring, “Those proposing a second term for Governor Aiyedatiwa are anti-people.” He clarified that the notion…

As each day brings us closer to 2027, the different political parties in Nigeria are not resting in their bid to either retain or take power. While the PDP has been in the spotlight recently for the crisis rocking it, Nigerians are passionate about what the future holds in 2027. In this interview, Segun Sowunmi, a PDP stalwart and former Gubernatorial Aspirant under the party in Ogun State, takes us through the intricacies of opposition politics, consistency, and leadership. Tunde Akingbondere: You are passionate about bringing strong opposition politics back through coalitions. What is the inspiration behind this passionate…

Palpable tension engulfed Irele, in the southern part of Ondo State, on May 5, 2025, when 41-year-old Odunayo Olomolatan, the son of a local landlord, allegedly hacked his 22-year-old tenant, Joy Tale, to death over a heated argument. Sources who witnessed the incident reveal that the brutal altercation, went out of hand, resulting in the young woman’s untimely death in the small town of Ode-Irele, where residents are still reeling from the shocking incident. Confirming the incident, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, revealed that the suspect, Odunayo Olomolatan, was swiftly apprehended and detained in police…

Some Nigerians residing in the United States have advocated for an independent, high-level investigation into the death of Chief Lukman Ojora Arounfale, a Nigerian-American and traditional leader based in South Carolina. Available information also revealed that there are also plans underway to hold a solidarity march in honour of the late monarch, who until his death on Saturday, April 26, 2025, served as the Baba Oba (Royal Father) of Oloyotunji in the Oyotunji African Village, South Carolina. SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that Chief Arounfale died from injuries sustained in an alleged assault said to have been ordered by the Alaafin…

Some youths have taken to the streets of Abuja to call for the immediate and unconditional release of an activist and social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). Citizen Rapporteur earlier hinted that the Nigeria Police Force nabbed VDM in Abuja. While details of his arrest are still sketchy, the youths took to the streets to call for his release. The protesting youths in their numbers chanted, “He’s not a thief, Now VDM has blocked the road, Release VDM.” The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, converged at the junction leading to the headquarters of the…

The EFCC has reportedly secured a court order to confine social media activist, Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan (VDM) Verydarkblack Man, to a remand facility pending the conclusion of investigation into alleged cybercrime offences. VDM was nabbed last Friday outside a GTBank branch in the Wuse area of Abuja by a combined team of EFCC operatives, officers of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force. According to eyewitnesses, he was accosted shortly after exiting the bank premises. His arrest sparked widespread outrage on social media, with the hashtag #FreeVDM trending across platforms throughout the weekend. Critics have…