Barely a week after a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Afe Babalola, withdrew his cases against lawyer and rights activist, Mr Dele Farotimi, there is unease among Nigerians over the status of other pending lawsuits against the activist.

Their concerns are borne out of the fact that the police, having arrested and charged Farotimi with 12-count of cybercrime offences and 16-count of criminal defamation based on Babalola’s petition, there are other lawyers who instituted legal actions against the activist, claiming over N1 billion in damages.

On December 6, 2024, a SAN, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, sued Farotimi for alleged defamatory statements in his book: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’

The Managing Partner at Afe Babalola & Co asked for N500 million in damages, while further appealing to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Abuja to halt the book’s publication and sale in physical and online bookstores.

Ogunwumiju, who pleaded with the court for an order for the seizure of the copies of the book wherever they might be found, stressed that Farotimi must apologise to him in two national newspapers.

Less than five days after Ogunwumiju’s suit, specifically on December 11, 2024, another lawyer from Babalola’s law firm, Mr Ola Faro, petitioned the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, alleging that the rights activist also defamed him in the aforesaid book.

Validating his claim, Faro identified specific statements in the book which allege that he, Babalola and his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co, compromised the integrity of the Supreme Court. According to Faro, the statements are not factual and are deliberately written to tarnish his reputation.

While Faro also sought N500 million in damages against Farotimi for unlawful defamation, he requested N100 million in damages for distributing the book.

Meanwhile, following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and some other traditional rulers in the feud between Babalola and Farotimi, the police prosecutor, Samson Osobu, last Wednesday, applied for the withdrawal of the cybercrime charges at the resumed hearing of the case at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

For the other criminal charge filed by the police against Farotimi before a chief magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti, Sunday Vanguard gathered that the case scheduled for February 13 has not been withdrawn as of the time of filing this report.

On December 3, 2024, reports emerged that Farotimi had been arrested in Lagos by the police.

Confirming his arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ekiti State Police Command, DSP Abutu Sunday, said: “The command wishes to inform members of the public that one Mr Dele Farotimi is currently undergoing investigation following a petition written against him to the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, for an allegation of defamation of character and cyberbullying. He was arrested today in Lagos with a warrant after all means deployed by the command to bring him for interrogation proved abortive.”

…recognize Ude-Okoye as National Secretary, reject Wike’s ally

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are trying to assert their dominance as the party’s main power brokers.

This followed their first most daring move to whittle down the influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in PDP affairs.

The Governor Bala Mohammed-led 12-member PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF) rose from their monthly meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Friday; with a clear message to the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum-led pro-Wike faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Mohammed, who read the communique after the meeting, said, “The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.”

The Forum also “advised” the NWC to reschedule the much awaited National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier slated for February to March 13th.

According to the governors, the shift is to give the NWC time to put in place the machinery to enable Ude-Okoye append his signature to the necessary documents notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the new date.

Message

With this declaration, the governors have sent an unambiguous message that they’ll henceforth deal with Hon. Ude-Okoye as National Secretary. Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a known Wike ally, insists he’s still the National Secretary irrespective of the PDP-GF’s position.

He told Sunday Vanguard, “I’m not perturbed about the communique issued by the governors. The PDP-GF is one of several pressure groups in our party, members are not bigger than the Nigerian Constitution and the pronouncements of our courts. I remain the PDP National Secretary.”

This happened barely 46 hours after Ude-Okoye was hounded out of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting by Anyanwu’s loyalists who felt irritated by his presence.

Recall, party stakeholders from the South-East had nominated Ude-Okoye as replacement for Anyanwu when the latter emerged as the PDP candidate for the 2023 Imo State governorship election.

Anyanwu argued that his position wasn’t vacant. According to him, the party’s Constitution didn’t require his resignation from office before contesting the governorship election.

Court

Following the party’s refusal to recognize him, Ude-Okoye approached a High Court to enforce his rights.
He won.

Anyanwu appealed but lost. He filed a motion for a stay of execution of the Appeal Court judgement while also asking the Supreme Court to upturn Udo-Okoye’s Appeal Court victory.

He reiterated his resolve to remain in office until the Supreme Court decides.

Wike, himself a former governor, fell out with the Bala Mohammed-led PDP-GF over their support for Governor Siminalaye Fubara in the fight for the control of the PDP structure in Rivers State.

The FCT minister rejected a suggestion by the governors for him to leave the party structure for the governor in line with established tradition. Speaking at a reception organized in his honour by the Ijaw People’s Congress in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State, in September last year, Wike said, “Let nobody threaten anybody. All those threats are empty. I said nobody would take the structure of the party.

“I said nobody would take over the structure of the party. You can have all the money; if it didn’t dey, it didn’t dey.”

War of words

Since then, a war of words, plots and counter-plots to control the party structure at the state and national levels has been the order of the day.

Wike had threatened to “set fire” in PDP states governors don’t stop meddling in the political affairs of Rivers State. The Rivers State political imbroglio has split the 17 member PDP NWC into two with one faction supporting Wike and the other supporting Fubara.

On Wike’s side are Damagum, Anyanwu and National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature.

Those on Fubara’s side are the PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba and National Treasurer, Alhaji Yayari Ahmed among others.

Former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, hailed the party’s governors for standing up for truth and justice.

He said, “Without doubt, our governors are on track. The matter of the National Secretary has since been decided. Ude-Okoye who was duly nominated by the South East caucus and so recognized by the courts occupies that office.

“What we in the North-Central expect now is for our governors and other stakeholders to take equal steps to redress the injustice done to us.

“As a first step, Damagum to revert to his position as Deputy National Chairman (North), and allow our zone complete what is left of the tenure of Senator Iyiorchia Ayu.

“If this is done, then we can confidently say our party is on the path to redemption”.

As reactions continue to trail the planned deportation of about 5, 144 Nigerians illegally living in the United States (US), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has said that the Federal Government is ready to welcome them home.

According to reports, no fewer than 5,144 Nigerians may be affected in the initial stage of the ongoing deportation exercises from the US as President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants continues.

The figure includes non-US citizens of Nigerian origin in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, and Enforcement and Removal Operations, ERO, non-detained docket with final orders of removal from the US and those already in ICE detention.

According to the data, 772 of the 1,454 Nigerians in ICE custody were arrested and detained for criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, while the rest were arrested for other immigration violations, such as visa overstays.

It further showed that 417 were arrested and removed as of November 2024, while 884 were removed between 2019 and 2024.

The disclosure by ICE comes at a time when the newly inaugurated administration of President Trump is implementing an immigration policy aimed at ridding the United States of illegal immigrants.

There have been issues surrounding the deportations with at least three countries, Mexico, Columbia and Brazil, alleging that their nationals were returned home in a degrading manner and there are fears the treatment could be extended to Nigerian deportees.

Columbia specifically said the deportees to the country were airlifted in military planes, handcuffed and treated like criminals.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the military deportation flights and said he would never carry out a raid to return handcuffed Americans to the U.S.

“We are the opposite of the Nazis,” he wrote in a post on social media platform X.

He also said however that Colombia would welcome home deported migrants on civilian planes, and offered his presidential plane to facilitate their “dignified return”.

Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions on Colombia to punish it for earlier refusing to accept military flights carrying the deportees as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown.

But in a statement, the White House said Colombia had agreed to accept the migrants after all and Washington would not impose its threatened penalties.

The use of U.S. military aircraft to carry out deportation flights is unusual.

U.S. military aircraft carried out two flights, each with about 80 migrants, to Guatemala penultimate Friday.
Mexico also refused a request to let a U.S. military aircraft land with migrants.

Trump has said he is thinking about imposing 25% duties on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1 to force further action against illegal immigrants and fentanyl flowing into the US.

Brazil’s foreign ministry, on its part, condemned “degrading treatment” of Brazilians after migrants were handcuffed on a commercial deportation flight.

Upon arrival, some passengers also reported mistreatment during the flight, according to reports.

The plane, which was carrying 88 Brazilian passengers, 16 U.S. security agents, and eight crew members, had been originally scheduled to arrive in Belo Horizonte in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.

However, at an unscheduled stop due to technical problems in Manaus, capital of Amazonas, Brazilian officials ordered removal of the handcuffs, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva designated a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) flight to complete their journey, the government said in a statement.

The commercial charter flight was the second this year from the U.S. carrying undocumented migrants deported back to Brazil and the first since Trump’s inauguration, according to Brazil’s federal police.
Speaking to Sunday Vanguard, Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri, restated to Sunday Vanguard the position of the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs of the commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, who spoke earlier to Vanguard on Wednesday.

She said, “Except you want to interview the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his own perspective. NiDCOM Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, already told Vanguard that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in charge of such development and that the Federal Government had already set up an inter-agency committee to handle the matter should Nigerians be deported from the US.

“The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US”, she said.

Also reacting to the development, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Ambassador Joe Keshi, insisted that if the President Tinubu-led government decides to improve the economy, the Japa syndrome would reduce drastically and people would decide to stay back in their country.

He said, “There’s no way it can affect our economy. If the Federal Government improves the economy, people will stay; it’s just the family they have been sending money to that would suffer because they won’t have money as they used to have before. Unless they find another means of survival.”

A 36-year-old United States-based Nigerian cardiologist, Ikenna Erinne, has reportedly committed suicide after losing a child support case to his yet-to-be-identified ex-wife.

The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday, January 26.

It was gathered that the Anambra-state-born late doctor had a prolonged divorce battle with his estranged wife, including the custody of their children.

He, however, lost the case after a US court ruled in favour of his ex-wife and ordered him to pay a monthly child support of $15,000.

Confirming the incident in a post shared on X.com, a Nigerian-American, Clayton Udo, said the court’s verdict took a severe financial toll on him, leading to his tragic death.

He wrote, “The abuse of African men in the USA must come to an end. In a deeply troubling case, Dr. Ikenna Erinne, an American-trained cardiologist, allegedly took his own life after an American court ordered him to pay his ex-wife $15,000 monthly, following a prolonged and contentious divorce case. This tragic incident highlights the systemic issues within the legal system that disproportionately affect African men.”

Udo, who claimed to be an expert in psychological and mental abuse, revealed that the deceased had spent thousands of dollars in legal fees before the court’s verdict turned out in favour of his ex-wife.

He further explained that the late doctor lost his license as a cardiologist to the case, adding that he died after shooting himself.

“He shot himself to death. He spent thousands of dollars in legal fees – wasted money. I am talking about a process that impoverishes you. You go to court and they take all your money.

“He lost his license as a cardiologist in this case plus they slammed on him 15,000 dollars a month plus restricted access to his children,” he added.

Another member of the Nigerian community in the United States, Obim Onujiogu, also confirmed Erinne’s death in a post on Facebook.

Onujiogu described him as a compassionate healer and devoted family man.

He, however, disclosed that his funeral would be held Monday in Maryland, the United States.

Onujiogu wrote, “In Loving Memory of Dr. Ikenna C. Erinne. It is with heavy hearts that the ASA DC family announces the sudden and untimely passing of Dr. Ikenna Erinne Dr. Ikenna C. Erinne, was a beloved father, son, brother, and esteemed cardiologist, who departed on January 26, 2025.

“Born on March 4, 1988, Dr. Erinne was a compassionate healer and devoted family man. He is survived by his children Ugonna and Munachi, parents Engr. Chris and Mrs. Chinwe Erinne, and siblings Chuks, Onyi, Kenny, and Gechi.

“A celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home in Elkridge, MD, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM , followed by interment at Meadowridge Memorial Park.”

Akin Osuntokun, the former director-general of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, said on Saturday the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, created Afenifere as a political party and not as a socio-cultural group.

Speaking on Arise Television, Osuntokun also said Afenifere was meant to be limited to the South-West.

He said: “Afenifere, as we describe it, is not a sociopolitical organisation. The ambiguity arose when Chief Awolowo started Egbe Omo Oduduwa. He also founded Afenifere, but people tend to confuse the two.

“Afenifere, founded by Awolowo, is actually the political arm of any party that Afenifere would join. It is actually a political party.

“That is the conception of the man who started it. In 1963, he made a presidential address and called anyone who associates Afenifere with the Yoruba people a traitor.

“He also said anyone who calls Afenifere a sociocultural group is a traitor; go and read his presidential address in 1963.

“I keep seeing this: Afenifere is not a sociocultural

The Nigerian currency, the Naira, has had an impressive run against the dollar in the last week, DAILY POST reports.

DAILY POST, in this report, explains how the Naira outperformed the dollar from Monday, January 27, 2024, to Friday, January 31, 2025, showing that the Naira recorded significant gains against the dollar in both official and parallel foreign exchange markets.

At the official market, the Naira strengthened to N1,478.78 per dollar at the end of the week on Friday, up from N1,533.63, where it traded at the start of the week on Monday.

This shows that, on a week-on-week basis, the Naira appreciated massively by N54.85 against the dollar at the official FX market.

Similarly, at the black market, the recorded impressive gain was when it firmed up to N1,610 per dollar on Friday, January 31, compared to N1,660 when it began the week.

This represents a N50 gain against the dollar at the black market on a week-on-week basis.

The appreciation is not unconnected to policy interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Recall that on Tuesday, during the week under review, the CBN introduced the FX Code to ensure transparency within the country’s FX market.

The development comes as the apex bank’s boss, Olayemi Cardoso, warned Nigerian banks against non-compliance with the newly issued FX Code.

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov on Saturday night.

It was the Stylebender’s third consecutive defeat.

Adesanya was sent tumbling to the canvas by a huge right hand from Imavov.

Imavov finished off Adesanya with some heavy ground and pound midway through the second round.

Adesanya had overcome his demons by knocking out Alex Pereira in April 2023 at the fourth time of asking.

That win saw the Nigerian-New Zealander regain the UFC middleweight title before suffering back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.

Heading into his fight with Imavov, Adesanya needed a win to remain at the middleweight top table.

But Imavov denied him that opportunity in devastating fashion.

Adesanya appeared to briefly protest the stoppage, but there was no denying things would have only got worse if the referee hadn’t waved it off.

Everyone in the AnB arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was stunned by the stoppage, including Adesanya, who banged the canvas in anger as the result sank in

Veteran Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, has advised singles to prioritize their safety rather than stay in a toxic or abusive marriage.

Naija News reports that this comes amid the ongoing controversy generated by singer 2Baba’s divorce from his wife, Annie Idibia.

In a video via his Instagram page on Saturday, Agu warned the public against peer pressure and desperation to get married, stressing that marriage is not a do-or-die affair.

The movie star also urged those in toxic marriages to seek help or run for their lives.

He said, “Marriage is not a do-or-die affair. If you have an abusive partner, or in a toxic relationship, run for your life. If you are not happy in your marriage, seek help or run for your life.

“Divorce is better than rest in peace. I want to stay because of my children or because he is rich. That was how a lady was burnt to death by her husband. Now, who will take care of the kids? Is it the husband that killed you? Or the relatives who love their own families?

“Always remember to do a background checks before proceeding to marrying someone. She is beautiful or he is handsome; I want to marry him or her by all means, see you, see death.

“My mates are all married, but I’m still single, see you, see death. I pray we don’t make mistakes that will cost us our life in the name of marriage in Jesus name.”

The presidency on Saturday declared that political opponents of President Bola Tinubu should wait till 2027 to test their popularity rather than heat up the polity now.

The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who dropped the note of caution, said the political opponents only attempted to use the President’s absence due to a trip to Tanzania to spread ill will.

He, however, said President Tinubu remains undisturbed and is not interested in playing politics with them as he is rather focused on improving the lives of Nigerians and building the economy.

According to him, it’s still far away from 2027, and Tinubu’s opponents should wait till the time for election and prove their mettle at the polls.

Dare submitted that the 2027 election would be a time for Nigerians to choose between political hecklers and real progressives but until then, President Tinubu is focused on leading the country.

“While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria was away in far away Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, his political opponents, detractors, opposition elements, psuedo friends unfolded their Machiavellian inclinations.

“The yoruba adage came alive– “Ai si nle ologbo, ile di ile ekute,” meaning the absence of the cat turns the house into the house of rats. Yet, we know those with genuine intentions.

“Indeed, while the President was seeking solutions to Nigerias’ energy problems in Dar es Salaam, some “wannabes “were heating up the polity.

“Expectedly, it was a gathering convened to further spread ill-will. Nothing new came out of the gathering different from the opposition script we are used to. A few of the participants went overboard in their vitriol, fanning the embers for adopting undemocratic actions.

“These political gladiators have antecedents that are well known. We urge Nigerians to begin their scrutiny early. And choose between political hecklers and real progressives. The clouds are beginning to clear. The stage sets soon. The combat begins.

“Until then, President Tinubu, an avowed democrat remains undistracted and unperturbed. The fight is ahead. Not now. The only conversation he wants to have now is how to improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and constructive discourse on building a resilient economy.

“This is 2025. Not 2027. Let those who want to test their popularity with Nigerians wait for the next election. President Tinubu is fully focused on providing the leadership that will transform our country,” the presidential media aide wrote via X

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has stated that he cannot hide his stance on issues.

He said this while reacting to an X user, @irahabib, who commended him for a book he authored titled ‘Accidental Public Servant’.

The netizen explained that after reading the book, he was convinced that only a politician who intends to develop the country truly would have El-Rufai in his cabinet.

The user wrote: “The day I read El-Rufai’s book titled Accidental Public Servant, I concluded that no politician would want @elrufai in their cabinet unless they genuinely intend to develop this country. He doesn’t know how to pretend.”

Reacting, El-Rufai posted: “Thanks for your kind words, @irahabib. Truly, I don’t know how to pretend. Being a Nollywood actor in governance is for some others, not some of us. Have a nice day. – @elrufai”

The former governor has been in the news lately for criticizing President Bola Tinubu-led administration and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

El-Rufai noted that the APC no longer has internal democracy, stressing that no organ of the party has met in the last two years.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, the former governor said he no longer recognizes the APC due to lack of internal democracy