Tag: Ex-minister

  • Ex-minister Olanrewaju: Obasa’s return as Lagos speaker killing democracy

    Ex-minister Olanrewaju: Obasa’s return as Lagos speaker killing democracy

    A former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd.), has strongly condemned the re-election of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as a threat to democracy.

    Olanrewaju argued that the events following Obasa’s impeachment suggest that lawmakers in Lagos lack the freedom to choose their leaders independently.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, the former minister warned that indigenous Lagosians must prepare for 2027, or risk continued political domination by non-indigenes.

    Olanrewaju criticized the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, for what he described as an assault on democracy.

    “Democracy died on Monday, March 3, when the Lagos State House of Assembly re-elected a constitutionally impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, following the resignation of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who had lawfully secured the position with an overall majority.”

    The former minister questioned the legitimacy of the political maneuvering that led to Obasa’s return and cast doubt on the integrity of the decision.

    “Are we not witnessing the gradual collapse of democracy before our eyes? A legitimate election outcome was reversed through political agreements, making the loser the winner. Was there an ulterior motive behind this? You can bet on it.”

    Olanrewaju further suggested that the decision to reinstate Obasa may have been influenced by powerful political forces in Abuja, rather than being a reflection of the House members’ democratic choice.

    “The turn of events suggests that House members have been deprived of their democratic right to elect their own leader. A conspiracy theory is pointing to Abuja as the power center that decided the final outcome of the crisis in the Lagos Assembly.”

    He also referenced comments by APC spokesperson Oladejo, who reportedly denied that an agreement for Obasa to resign was ever in place.

    “A dummy was sold to the public that Obasa would step down on March 5, 2025, for a neutral candidate from Lagos West. Now, we see that was never the plan.”

    With the unfolding political crisis, Olanrewaju emphasized the need for a new political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

    “Lagos State politics will need a new roadmap in 2027. Indigenous Lagosians and their allies must throw everything into the arena to reclaim political leadership. The ruling elites have sidelined the state’s indigenes, and the removal of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as Speaker has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many.”

    The former minister’s remarks reflect growing discontent over the political dynamics in Lagos, particularly regarding the role of external influence in state politics and the representation of indigenous citizens in governance.

  • Ex-minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, back in Nollywood with new movie ‘Hatred’

    Ex-minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, back in Nollywood with new movie ‘Hatred’

    Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has made a comeback to Nollywood with her latest film, “Hatred”.

    The movie, which she produced, marks her official return to the industry after her stint in politics. Kennedy-Ohanenye was appointed as a minister by President Bola Tinubu on August 21, 2023, but was relieved of her duties on October 23, 2024, alongside four other cabinet members.

    Since leaving office, the 51-year-old has refocused on her passion for filmmaking, a craft she nurtured long before stepping into government.

    Announcing the release of “Hatred” on Wednesday via X, she shared a link to the film on Kenuj TV, her YouTube platform.

    Kennedy-Ohanenye is no stranger to Nollywood. She has previously starred in films such as ‘Saving My Marriage,’ ‘Hunting the Angel,’ ‘Royal Ploy,’ and ‘The Cow Girls,’ working alongside industry veterans like Segun Arinze, Ngozi Ezeonu, Linda Osifo and Francis Duru.

    Beyond acting, she is also a trained lawyer, entrepreneur and politician. In 2015, she joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and made history as the first woman to declare a presidential ambition under the party in the 2023 elections before stepping down for Tinubu.

  • Ex-minister, Agunloye pleads not guilty to EFCC’s amended 7-count charge

    Ex-minister, Agunloye pleads not guilty to EFCC’s amended 7-count charge

    A former Minister of Power and Steel Development, Mr. Olu Agunloye, has pleaded not guilty to a seven-count amended charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.

    Read Also: Alleged 6bn fraud: Court grants EFCC permission to amend charge against ex-minister Agunloye

    Agunloye served as a Minister between 1999 and 2003, under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He was re-arraigned before trial Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Apo, on Monday, following his alleged complicity in a $6 billion fraud.

    EFCC alleged that the defendant had while he held sway as a Minister, illegally awarded a contract for the construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis.

    The anti-graft agency told the court that the contract, which was awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, was done without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.

    Agunloye was equally alleged to have
    corruptly received kickback to the tune of N3.6million from the company he awarded the contract to.

    According to the EFCC, the former Minister, allegedly received about N5.212million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, through one Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.

    However, the defendant, who had also served as a Minister of State for Defence, pleaded his innocence to the charge that bordered on forgery, fraudulent award of contract and corruption.

    Justice Onwuegbuzie allowed him to retain the N50m bail the court previously gave him on January 11, 2024, when he was first arraigned by the EFCC.

    Meanwhile, shortly after the re-arraignment, the prosecution presented its second witness, PW-2, Mr. Adewale Agunbiade, who is a former bank compliance officer.

    The witness, who was cross-examined by counsel to the defendant, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that he is no longer a staff member of the bank, adding that he does not have the permission of his present employer to continue giving the evidence he started on September 23, 2024.

    He equally told the court that the EFCC did not issue him with a witness summons to testify in the case.

    Besides, Agunbiade told the court that when he informed EFCC operatives that he no longer works for said bank, they insisted that he was the one that prepared the documents pertaining to the case.

    Asked if he presented his identification card to the court to establish that he is currently a staff member of another bank, the witness answered in the negative.

    Meantime, justice Onwuegbuzie has adjourned further hearing in the matter till February 24