A bill seeking to transition Nigeria from its current presidential system of government to a parliamentary system has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
Naija News reports that the bill was one of 31 Constitution amendment bills discussed during a plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on Thursday.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Office of the Prime Minister as Head of Government and the Office of President as Head of State and to Provide for a Framework for the Mode of Election to the Said Offices and for Related Matters (HB.1115),” the bill was sponsored by House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, alongside 59 other lawmakers.

If passed, the bill will effectively replace the current presidential system with a parliamentary model, where the Prime Minister, elected by the legislature, will hold executive powers, while the President will serve as a ceremonial Head of State.

In February 2024, 60 members of the House introduced three bills proposing amendments to the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), aiming for a transition to a parliamentary system of government by 2031. These bills include the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (HB.1115); Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (HB.1116); and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (HB.1117).

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Abdussamad Dasuki expressed that the proposed amendments would have a profound impact on Nigeria’s political landscape.

He argued that the current presidential system, despite several amendments, has proven ineffective, especially in addressing the nation’s developmental challenges.

Dasuki highlighted several shortcomings of the presidential system, including the high cost of governance, which limits available resources for critical sectors like infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

He also pointed to the excessive powers vested in the executive, which, he noted, is not directly accountable to the people.

“Over the years, the imperfections of the presidential system of government have become glaring to all, despite several alterations to the constitution to address the shortcomings of a system that has denied the nation the opportunity of attaining its full potential,” Dasuki said.

He added that the parliamentary system, which was in place during Nigeria’s First Republic, provided a governance model in which both legislative and executive powers were exercised by elected representatives who were directly accountable to the people.

The sponsors of the bill argued that returning Nigeria to a parliamentary system would foster greater accountability in government, making it more responsible and responsive to the needs of the people.

They also suggested that the parliamentary system would reduce the cost of governance, making it more efficient and less financially burdensome.

“For six years while it was in operation, the parliamentary system worked for the country,” Dasuki concluded, advocating for a return to the system that functioned well during the early years of Nigeria’s independence.

A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has said he took a vow to destroy Peter Obi’s Obidient movement because he (Obi) was his project.

Omokri said he was responsible for Obi’s vice-presidential candidacy in 2029. His position, however, contradicts Atiku Abuabakar‘s account of how Obi became his vice in the 2019 election.

Naija News reported that the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clarified that former President Olusegun Obasanjo chose Obi for him.

He said Obasanjo suggested Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chukuwuma Soludo, but because they were not members of the PDP, Obi was chosen.

In an interview with News Central on Thursday, the controversial social media influencer alleged that members of the Obidient movement attacked him, his wife and his child.

“I took a vow to destroy that movement because Peter Obi was a project of mine. I was responsible for Peter Obi becoming the running mate to Waziri Atiku Abubakar in 2019. I’ve said this publicly. I’ve got the documents. I’m a meticulous record keeper,” he said.

Speaking on the alleged attack on his family by alleged members of the Obidient movement, Reno said he received too many death threats.

“Peter Obi’s movement, Obidients, started attacking me, threatening me, insulting me. That was OK. But then they moved from myself to my family. I just had a daughter at that time. There were multiple death threats.

“They came to my house in the United Kingdom. They trailed my wife and me when we were jogging. They found out my jogging route and pursued me, threatening me,” he stated.

According to him, it was when the former Governor of Anambra State could not take action after he complained to him about the alleged attack on his family that he decided to use “whatever political machinery I have to destroy that movement“.

Bisola Ajimobi Kola-Daisi, the eldest daughter of the late former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, has passed away.

Naija News gathered that Bisola, who was married to Kolapo Kola-Daisi, died in the early hours of Thursday at the age of 42.

According to Daily Post, she passed away in the United Kingdom.

Until her passing, she served as the Special Adviser to the Minister of Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

Confirming the news, the former governor’s Special Adviser, Bolaji Tunji, stated to journalists in Ibadan: “Yes. It has been confirmed.”

More details to follow…

The Nigerian Electoral College has requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guarantee that the recall procedure for the suspended senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, follows the established guidelines.

INEC had communicated the commencement of the process in a letter to the Kogi Central Senator, Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Wednesday.

“Pursuant to Section 69 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I write to notify you of the receipt of a petition from representatives of registered voters in your constituency seeking your recall from the senate,” the letter read.

The notification added that, “The notification is in line with the provisions of clause 2 (a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.”

In a statement by its Executive Director, Kunle Lawal, the organisation urged INEC to conduct the process transparently and fairly.

It cautioned that any efforts to undermine or politicise the recall process could damage the integrity of democratic institutions.

The group also urged all stakeholders to uphold the legal framework and allow the process to unfold without interference.

“We emphasise that INEC must conduct this process with transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to its guidelines, ensuring that the will of the people is not manipulated.

“Any attempt to short-circuit or politicise the recall process would undermine the credibility of our democratic institutions.

“As a non-partisan institution, the Electoral College Nigeria does not take sides in political contests but remains committed to educating Nigerians on their rights and responsibilities.

“We urge all stakeholders to respect the legal framework and allow the process to run its course without interference,” the statement read.

The Federal Government has declared Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Ftr festival after the completion of the Ramadan Fast.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who extended heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

The statement, signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, conveyed the Minister’s warm wishes and urged all Muslims to embrace the virtues cultivated during Ramadan – self-discipline, compassion, generosity, and peace.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasised the significance of love, forgiveness, and solidarity as key elements in fostering a harmonious society.

The Minister further encouraged Nigerians to use the festive period for prayer, focusing on the peace, stability, and prosperity of the nation. He expressed hope that the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr would serve as a catalyst for unity and cooperation, bridging divides across religious and ethnic lines.

Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens to celebrate safely and responsibly, while remembering the less-privileged through acts of kindness and charity—keeping in line with the true spirit of Ramadan and Eid.

A businessman, Okorie Sunday, arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, with $578,000 in cash, collapsed in court during his trial on Wednesday.

Okorie is being tried at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

He was called into the dock for the charge to be re-read to him but collapsed just as the court registrar was about to read the counts.

DAILY POST reported that the suspect was on Tuesday arraigned by the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the same court on four counts of alleged money laundering and currency scam.

He pleaded not guilty.

The court later remanded him in custody and subsequently adjourned until Wednesday for his trial.

However, at the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, his counsel, Uche Okoronkwo, informed the court that his client would like to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.

Okoronkwo asked the court to allow the charge to be read to Okorie again.

Counsel for the EFCC, Chineye Okezie, confirmed to the court that Okorie had indeed decided to plead guilty.

Justice Dipeolu agreed and ordered counts three and four to be withdrawn. He then asked the court registrar to read counts one and two to the defendant.

As the registrar was about to read the counts, he asked the defendant if he understood English. Okorie did not respond but suddenly slumped and collapsed in the dock.

His wife and daughter, who were in the courtroom, started crying.

As of the time of this report, the defendant has been rushed to the hospital while the matter has been stood down.

DAILY POST reported that the Nigerian Customs Service had intercepted the suspect who arrived in Lagos from Johannesburg aboard South African Airways Flight SA60 on March 19, 2025.

At the airport’s currency declaration desk, he declared only $279,000.

However, a routine search uncovered an additional $299,000 hidden in several packages, bringing the total amount to $578,000.

Popular Nigerian disc jockey, Florence Otedola, aka DJ Cuppy, has expressed optimism that the country will one day elect a female President.

She stated that the record recently set by Namibia as the first African country to have both a female President and a female Vice President could serve as a beacon of hope for women in Nigeria.

In a statement on her X handle, Cuppy said, “Namibia just made history.

“Africa’s FIRST country with BOTH a female President AND female Vice President.

“Maybe there’s hope for Nigeria one day after all…”

DAILY POST reported that Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was recently sworn in as Namibia’s first woman President, after winning elections last year.

The Vice President is another woman: Lucia Witbooi.- making Namibia the first African country to have a female President and a female Vice President.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on Wednesday took a critical look into the practice of law in the country and lamented the downturn in adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession.

She noted with regrets that strict adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession was not only dwindling but facing serious challenges.

The CJN spoke at the public presentation of the report of the Directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee held at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.

To address the trend, Justice Kekere-Ekun canvassed an urgent need for law practitioners to recommit themselves to the fundamental values of ethics, discipline and professional responsibility.

She said, “It is instructive to note that the Body of Benchers, as the apex institution of the legal profession in Nigeria, is uniquely
positioned to lead the charge in this regard.

“The responsibility of upholding the legal profession’s sanctity rests heavily on its shoulders, and I have no doubt that the
Body will continue to rise to the occasion.

“The enforcement of professional discipline among legal practitioners, through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), is a vital function that must be pursued with fairness, transparency, and unwavering resolve.”

The CJN who chaired the inaugural edition of the Body of Benchers annual lecture and the public presentation of the Body of Benchers Law Report, praised the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN, and the entire members of the Body for their foresight and dedication in initiating the lecture.

She said that the lecture was not only a testament to the progressive evolution of the Body but also a much-needed platform for intellectual engagement, practical discourse and introspective reflections on the role of the Body of Benchers within the legal profession in Nigeria.

According to her, the lecture initiative was conceived as an annual event to serve multiple purposes, including illuminating on the workings of the Body of Benchers, both nationally and internationally, to foster greater understanding of its critical role in legal practice and professional discipline, and providing a forum for robust, critical and well-researched discussions.

The CJN further explained that the lecture will address challenges and future prospects of the Body, evaluating the ethical standards of the legal profession in Nigeria to ensure the highest levels of discipline, integrity, and professional responsibility among lawyers, and presenting a forward-looking agenda for strengthening the legal profession while enhancing public confidence in the judiciary and legal practice.

She pleaded that the initiative be sustained and expanded, noting that it should not only serve as an avenue for reflection and discourse but also as a mechanism for setting clear benchmarks for professional ethics, continuous legal education and justice sector reforms.

This maiden edition of the annual lecture, with the theme ‘Half-A-Century of the Body of Benchers: The Past, The Present, and The Future of Maintaining the Ethics of the
Legal Profession in Nigeria’, is to be delivered by a former governor of Lagos State and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

A bill seeking to strip the Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors of immunity from prosecution has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill, which aims to amend the Constitution of Nigeria, was debated and voted on during Wednesday’s plenary session.

The proposed legislation is sponsored by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Rivers state, Solomon Bob.

He said the bill seeks to “promote accountability in public office” by removing the immunity currently granted to the vice-president, governors, and their deputies.

More details later…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed to ensure that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, fails in his presidential ambition.

Naija News reports that Atiku addressed his decision not to select Wike as his running mate in the 2023 election, stating that he has no regrets.

In an interview for the television show Untold Stories with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, Atiku responded to questions regarding the leadership crisis in the PDP that followed his choice.

Many observers speculated that the decision to overlook Wike, who had led a rebellion within the PDP along with five other governors, contributed to Atiku’s loss in the election. Wike later boasted about working against Atiku and delivering Rivers State for President Bola Tinubu.

When asked if he regretted not picking Wike, Atiku responded firmly: “No, not at all.”

Atiku explained that his decision was rooted in the process followed within the party, recalling the criticism he faced in 2019 for allegedly failing to consult widely when selecting Peter Obi as his running mate.

Reacting through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike said he has no regret that Atiku refused to pick him as his running mate during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.

He admitted to playing a role in Atiku’s defeat in the 2023 election and vowed to ensure his defeat in future elections.

In the post via ?, Lere wrote, “Two years after making the @OfficialPDPNig lose a presidential election it could have won, @atiku is giving reasons he did not pick @GovWike as his running mate and that he has no regrets.

“Someone should tell our serial presidential election contester that Wike also has no regret for ensuring that he failed in the election and will make sure that he fails again and again.”