Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and its chairman, Barr. Hashim Abioye have filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the state’s Commissioner of Police for alleged breach of fundamental rights.

In suit no: FHC/Os/CS/41/2025 filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, on behalf of all OSSIEC workers and its ad-hoc staff, the commission sued the defendants for breach and continuing breach of their fundamental rights, illegal arrest and detention, unlawful sealing of the Commission’s premises, as well as threat of further arrest and detention and illegal seizure of properties belonging to OSSIEC.

The Commission and its chairman are also demanding the sum of N2 billion as damages against the defendants, amongst other reliefs.

They are seeking an order directing the defendants to vacate and unseal the plaintiffs’ office premises and immediate release of all staff of the commission arrested for doing their lawful duty.

The plaintiffs also seek an order restraining the defendants from arresting detaining or doing anything capable of hindering the fundamental human rights to liberty, private life and property as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recall that the OSSIEC headquarters was sealed off by the police a day before the Saturday, February 22, 2025 local government elections in the state which prevented the Commission’s staff from performing their lawful duty.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Fouad Oni, has warned those supporting the impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, not to cause a breach of peace in the state.

Oni warned that defenders of democracy are willing to put their lives on the line.

He was reacting to the invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the police.

Reports indicated that DSS operatives took over the complex in an attempt to seal up the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, the Deputy Speaker, and the Clerk of the House.

Mojisola Meranda, the Speaker of the House, reportedly arrived around 12 pm with her convoy.

However, the lawmakers expressed confidence in Meranda’s leadership.

Recall that Meranda emerged as Speaker on January 13, 2025, after Mudashiru Obasa was impeached.

Obasa was impeached while he was in the United States, US.

Upon his return, Obasa dismissed his impeachment, stressing that the lawmakers never followed due process.

However, a letter signed by the Clerk of the Assembly requesting DSS operatives had emerged after the invasion.

The letter, dated February 14, stated that DSS operatives were requested to strengthen security around the premises ahead of February 18.

The letter cited reports that Obasa planned to resume as Speaker.

While appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oni said: “Today is a sad day for me and all democracy-loving Nigerians… For those who may either be benefactors of Mudashiru Obasa or are supporting him to cause a breach of peace in Lagos, we will again put our lives on the line to defend democracy.

“I think we have had enough, enough of begging, enough of appeasement. If you see what happened today, you will begin to look at Rivers State, and unfortunately the mayhem that is also consuming Osun State. If you put all of these together, it will be like a child’s play.”

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Wednesday, sentenced five Egba chiefs to six months imprisonment for maliciously damaging the sealed letter and removing the caution tape pasted by the Abeokuta South Local Government on the Ogboni Igbore house.

The court, however, gave the chiefs option of a N50,000 fine.

The five Igbore chiefs are Anthony Ogunseye (55), the Apena of Igbore, Ajasa Enisemo (67); Saheed Sanusi (50); Oludotun Oliyide (60); and Fatai Mutairu (63).

They were convicted on a four-count charge of conspiracy, malicious damage, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and stealing contrary to sections 451, 516, 249(d) and 383 of the criminal code, Vol II, laws of Ogun 2006.

Delivering the judgement, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. E.O. Ogunyemi, said, “The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused are guilty as charged.”

Ogunyemi added, “The evidence presented by the prosecutor is tenable, and I therefore sentence each of the chiefs to six months, with an option of a N50,000 fine each.”

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Olaide Rawlings told the court that the five defendants committed the offence on March 21, 2023, at about 12:15 pm at the Ogboni House in the Igbore area.

Rawlings said the chiefs conspired among themselves to maliciously damage the sealed letter of the Abeokuta South local government that was pasted on the walls,  doors and windows of the Ogboni House.

She explained that the Ogboni house was sealed by the local government for security reasons following the crisis which erupted over a chieftain title in the Ogboni house.

Rawlings said that the chiefs conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by deliberately removing the caution tape placed on the Ogboni house.

“They also stole two billboards that were fixed on the two doors of the Ogboni Ignore house by the local government,” she said

The prosecutor, however, said the offence committed contravened sections 451, 516,249(d) and 383 of the criminal code, Vol II laws of Ogun 2006.

The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has refuted allegations of violation of extant law and rules in the appointment of its new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi.

In a statement released by the university’s Governing Council on Wednesday, signed by the Acting Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mrs. Islamiyat F. Adulrahim, the institution assured that the VC appointment process fully complied with all relevant laws and established procedures.

The statement said the Governing Council of the University, led by Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd), “has complied with the extant laws and laid down procedures and processes in the appointment of the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.”

According to her, “Contrary to the insinuations in some quarters, the Council in making the appointment announced on 31st December 2024, strictly complied with the relevant provisions of the two main acts guiding the appointment of Vice-Chancellors of the University, namely, the University of Abuja Act and the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003, No. 1 of 2007.

“The Council is not unaware of complaints raised by some interested parties in the course of the transition process, which commenced as far back as March 2024 when the University initially advertised the position of Vice-Chancellor.

“However, it is important to note that all such concerns and issues were considered and efforts made to resolve the issues amicably with the active involvement of major stakeholders in the University, including the Senate and the local branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

“That explains the wide and enthusiastic acceptance of the announcement of the new Vice-Chancellor within and beyond the University community.”

“Council appreciates that in a contest of eighty-seven applicants with only one winner expected to emerge, the losers must exhibit great sportsmanship and maturity to accept the outcome,” the statement added.

She further emphasised the need for the University to forge ahead and allow the brand-new substantive Vice-Chancellor, who served in an acting capacity in the past six months, to unfold and pursue her vision for the University in an atmosphere of inclusiveness and enduring corporate harmony.