Blogger Remanded Over Defamatory Post Against Tony Elumelu

The police on Friday arraigned a 19-year-old blogger, Nurenorue Surpruchi, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged cyberstalking and defamatory posts against the Chairman of United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu.

Surpruchi was arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cyberstalking, bullying and defamation.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

According to the prosecution, the defendant and others still at large allegedly conspired on April 5, 2026, to use a computer system and network to disseminate false and injurious information against Elumelu.

When the matter came up for arraignment, prosecution counsel, A.G. Obi, from the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a four-count charge against the defendant and urged the court to direct that the charges be read to him for plea.

The charges were subsequently read, and the defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following the plea, Obi told the court that although the prosecution was ready to proceed with the matter, it had only just been served with the defendant’s bail application earlier in the day.

She said the prosecution would require time to study the application and file an appropriate response, urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.

The prosecutor also asked the court for a trial date.

Defence counsel, A. Edoh, confirmed that the bail application had only just been served on the prosecution and appealed for a short adjournment to enable the court to hear the application.

After listening to both parties, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter until June 19, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.

The judge also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Correctional Service.

In one of the counts, the prosecution alleged that the defendant used an X account identified as “@PROBLElEMCHIMKYI,” allegedly registered in his name, to publish false and offensive statements claiming that Elumelu had divorced his wife after discovering through DNA tests that none of his seven children belonged to him.

The prosecution further alleged that the publication, which reportedly garnered about 1.9 million views, 1,600 reposts, 6,300 likes and over 600 saves, was intended to bully, threaten and harass the UBA chairman, thereby injuring his reputation and exposing him to public ridicule.

  

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We Have Recovered N270 Million From Fraudulent Estate Agents - Lagos Housing Commissioner

The Lagos State Government has recovered more than N270 million from fraudulent estate agents and property developers on behalf of residents affected by real estate fraud across the state.

The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, disclosed the development during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the government, the recovery reflects ongoing efforts to protect residents from exploitation, fraudulent transactions, and unethical practices within the real estate sector.

The Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) has intensified regulatory oversight through public sensitisation campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and enforcement operations aimed at restoring confidence in the property market.

The government also revealed that awareness campaigns were carried out across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to educate residents on safe property transactions and discourage illegal real estate practices.

The state government urged residents to verify estate agents and developers through official LASRERA channels before engaging in property transactions.

  

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App-Based Transporters In Lagos Cry Out Over Exploitation By Uber, Bolt And InDrive

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has petitioned the Lagos State Government over what it described as worsening exploitation and unsafe working conditions faced by drivers operating on ride-hailing platforms including Uber, Bolt and inDrive.

In a letter dated May 25, 2026 and addressed to the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the union called for urgent legal, legislative and regulatory intervention in the operations of the ride-hailing companies in Lagos.

AUATON said despite previous engagements with government authorities, drivers’ welfare and safety conditions had continued to deteriorate, while no sustainable regulatory enforcement had been achieved. The union also referenced a recent directive by the National Health Insurance Authority mandating app-based transport and logistics platforms to provide health insurance access for independent contractors and workers in line with the NHIA Act 2022 and the September 2025 Presidential Directive on compulsory health insurance.

According to the union, ride-hailing companies deduct various commissions and service charges from drivers without providing adequate welfare protection, including health insurance and social support schemes.

Highlighting security concerns, AUATON alleged that several drivers had been attacked, killed or dispossessed of their vehicles since 2017, while incidents involving passengers had also exposed gaps in safety protocols on the platforms. The union demanded mandatory National Identification Number linkage and compulsory facial verification systems for both drivers and riders.

The union also decried what it described as excessive commission charges imposed by the companies. It claimed that an average driver earning N60,000 daily loses as much as 27 per cent to commissions and booking fees, alongside rising operational costs including fuel, feeding, vehicle remittance and maintenance.

AUATON estimated that after deductions and expenses, many drivers are left with less than N3,000 daily despite working for long hours under harsh economic conditions. It blamed the situation for fatigue-related accidents among drivers.

The union demanded that commissions charged by ride-hailing companies should not exceed five per cent or that a daily subscription model ranging from N500 to N1,000 be adopted instead.

On welfare, AUATON proposed that at least two per cent of commissions collected by the companies should be set aside in a jointly managed escrow account to fund health insurance schemes such as ILERA EKO, vehicle insurance, pension schemes, soft loans, housing support and installation of trackers and dash-cams.

The union further accused the platforms of unilateral fare fixing, inconsistent pricing and alleged manipulation of trip calculations, while also criticising the refusal of the companies to formally recognise AUATON as a stakeholder in the industry.

AUATON called for a roundtable meeting involving all stakeholders and urged the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to compel the companies to comply with labour, welfare and safety standards.

The union warned that drivers across Lagos State had resolved to continue peaceful protests until meaningful reforms were implemented within the e-hailing sector.

  

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Lagos Comes Hard On 176 Illegal Estates Operating In The State, Defends High Cost Of Permits

As part of efforts to curb fraudulent property developments and restore order in the built environment, the Lagos State Government on Friday published the names of 176 illegal estates operating without approved layout plans.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing marking the third year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

According to the commissioner, the ministry intensified monitoring and enforcement operations across the state, with 205 estates inspected for compliance with approved layout plans.
He explained that the exercise was aimed at promoting sustainable urban development, improving infrastructure coordination, and ensuring orderly estate development across Lagos.
“Through continuous monitoring and enforcement activities, the department contributed significantly towards reducing incidences of unregulated estate development and promoting safer, more organised, and environmentally sustainable communities across Lagos State,” Olumide said.

The commissioner also highlighted major progress recorded in planning permit administration through the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).
He revealed that between June and December 2025, the state received 14,549 planning permit applications and granted 11,701 approvals, while an additional 7,054 applications were submitted between January and March 2026, with 5,578 approvals granted.
Olumide noted that the state’s 60-day planning permit amnesty programme significantly improved compliance among property owners and developers.

On reforms in permit processing, he said the state government introduced the Electronic Physical Planning Permit Processing System (e-PPPS) to simplify and modernise permit applications.
“The platform enables applicants to process planning permit applications online from any location, thereby improving transparency, accessibility, efficiency, accountability, and ease of doing business,” he stated.
The ministry further disclosed that Lagos completed major urban planning projects during the review period, including the Lagos Island Model City Plan, Ibeju-Lekki Model City Plan, and the revised Badagry Master Plan.

Olumide said the government remained committed to building a resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive city through improved urban planning and stronger regulatory enforcement.
“We recorded significant improvements in planning permit submissions and approvals as more residents and developers embraced regulatory compliance and permit regularisation initiatives introduced by the government,” he added.
The Lagos State Government also defended the cost of building permits in the state, insisting that ongoing infrastructure projects across Lagos have significantly increased property values and improved living conditions.

Responding to concerns over the perceived high cost of permits, Olumide argued that every part of Lagos was currently benefitting from one infrastructure project or another under the Sanwo-Olu administration.
“Regarding the high cost of permits, I disagree. Mention any area in Lagos that is not witnessing one infrastructure project or another. There is virtually no part of Lagos where the governor is not carrying out developmental projects,” he said.
He maintained that government investments in roads and critical infrastructure have substantially enhanced property values across the state.

  

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Lagos APC Crisis Deepens As Tinubu’s Daughter Alleges Rigging, Threatens Protest And Demands Scrapping Of Justice Forum, Mandate Movement

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, deepened as the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, on Wednesday, called for the disbandment of the influential Justice Forum and Mandate Movement groups over alleged manipulation of the party’s primaries.

Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Tinubu, specifically faulted the conduct of the House of Representatives primary for Mushin Constituency I, Agege Constituency II, Ojokoro, alleging that the mandate of aspirants in the constituencies were stolen and handed to “a non-winner.”

Speaking during the weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders at the Iyaloja-General’s office in Alausa, Ikeja, she condemned what she described as political shenanigans and warned against attempts to subvert the will of party members.
She also decried the alleged marginalisation of traders by political office holders despite their contributions to the growth and electoral success of the APC in Lagos State.

The Iyaloja General cited the cases of Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo in Agege Constituency II, Seye Oladejo in Mushin Federal Constituency, and Olotu Emmanuel Ojo in Ojokoro, insisting that the aspirants won their respective primaries convincingly before moves were allegedly made to alter the outcomes.

She said: “We have to cry out now, Let the APC cancel Justice and Mandate Forums because our governroship candidate belongs to the Justice Forum. Everybody is now joking the Justice Forum because that is where our incoming governor’s belongs to. Are we not Lagosians?

“When he becomes the governor, he will not be the governor for APC alone, he has to balance it. Even when you are the governor, you have to lead both your friends and foes. It is saddening that when a Mandate Forum aspirant wins, he jumps to Justice Forum, it is saddening. It is a way of telling us that hard work doesn’t pay in politics.

“Something must be done on that because it is important. We are sure that Seye Oladejo won in Mushin Federal Constituency and Olotu Emmanuel Ojo in Ojokoro won in Ojoroko with a landslide.

“Infact, we decided to calm down and see what they will do about it because we are ready to protest. We know they won the election and their mandate should not be given to somebody else.”

She urged APC leaders at the state and national levels to immediately investigate the disputed primaries and ensure that justice prevailed before final ratification of the results.

She warned that failure to address the grievances could worsen internal tensions within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Tinubu-Ojo declared that market women across Lagos remained committed to supporting the governorship ambition of Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates nationwide, but stressed that traders deserved recognition and political appointments in return for their loyalty and sacrifices.

She also urged President Bola Tinubu to acknowledge traders as critical stakeholders in national development.

Meanwhile, aggrieved APC members and supporters in Mushin threatened mass protests if the alleged mandate of Oladejo was not restored.

The protesters accused leaders of the Justice Forum bloc of attempting to impose candidates and undermine internal democracy within the party.

“We know who won the election and the mandate should not be stolen. We are ready to protest if justice is not done,” one of the protesters said.

  

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Queen Favour Kalu Wins 2026 Face Of Itire-Ikate Beauty Pageant

Queen Favour Kalu has emerged the winner of the 2026 Face of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area pageantry after contesting alongside 10 other participants

at the maiden edition of the competition held on Friday in Lagos.

The Chairman of Itire-Ikate LCDA, Oluwafemi Odunayo, described the pageant as the first of its kind in the council, adding that the initiative was designed

to empower young people and boost their confidence.

Odunayo said the programme was aimed at “building the youths’ self-esteem and empowering them to be relevant in society.”

He added that he expected the winner to use the platform as a stepping stone for greater achievements.

According to him, the winner should “leverage the platform as an opportunity to move to the top and achieve more in life.”

The council chairman also highlighted some of the administration’s youth-focused initiatives, noting that the LCDA had become recognised for Adire production

while several youths had received vocational training.

“In response to the diverse initiative his administration has executed in the LCDA, Hon Femi enumerated that the LCDA is now identified as a hub for Adire

and the youth have also been trained on how to make shoes, bags and given certificates to the effect,” the statement noted.

Speaking on the selection process, the Supervisor for Tourism in the LCDA, Bamgbose-Ajala Oluwabukola, said contestants were assessed based on their ability

to represent the council effectively.

According to her, the criteria included “composure, boldness, intelligence and overall, a person who can represent the LCDA adequately anywhere.”

She further said the council was taking deliberate steps to position itself as a tourism destination in Lagos through the promotion of Adire and other

commercial activities.

Also speaking, the councillor representing Baruwa Ward and member of the tourism committee, Damilare Oyenekan, said the event would help foster unity among

youths and reduce insecurity through constructive engagement.

He said the programme was important in “ensuring unity among the Itire-Ikate youths, making them understand that they are important to the society,” adding

that such initiatives could help “dwindle the rate of insecurity through the engagements of youths into such vibrant and valuable activity.”

The Head of Department, Tourism, Itire-Ikate LCDA, Oluwajumoke Disu, said the initiative was created to inspire personal growth among young people.

She said, “The actual intention of the event is to make the youths better versions of themselves.”

Disu added that the winner could go on to become “a brand ambassador, stay connected and have things to live on.”

Other winners at the event included Deborah Gbemisola Ogunniyi as first runner-up, Aminat Sanyaolu as second runner-up, and Edjo Oghenetega as third runner-up. 

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Child Abuse: Foundation Takes Advocacy To School In Oshodi

An advocacy group, Edge Foundation, has sensitised children in the Oshodi area of Lagos State on the dangers of bullying, sexual abuse and child labour, urging them to speak up against all forms of abuse and prioritise their personal safety.

The founder of Edge Foundation, Casmir Ozuruigbo, spoke on Wednesday during a Children’s Day sensitisation programme held at the St John Catholic Church, Oshodi, Lagos State.

Speaking on the reason behind the initiative, the broadcast journalist said the programme was driven by a long-standing passion to protect children from sexual abuse, bullying and child labour.

According to him, many adults experienced different forms of abuse while growing up, making it important to educate children on their rights and personal safety.

Ozuruigbo stressed the need for children to understand that they deserve to live freely without fear of abuse or intimidation.

He said, “It’s not just about doing sensitisation. It has been a long-burning passion in me to help children and ensure they stay safe.

“If we are being honest with ourselves as adults, when we trace back to our childhood, most of us either experienced sexual harassment, child labour or some form of abuse.

“It is really important that today, being Children’s Day, we use it to highlight the need for children to understand the powers they have and to know they are just children and should simply live freely without being subjected to sexual abuse, child labour or bullying.”

Commenting on the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, Ozuruigbo said the rising insecurity could discourage many children from embracing education.

“Children currently do not have a sense of safety due to the rising insecurity in the country.

“We saw what happened recently in Oyo State, where children were abducted in large numbers, and teachers were killed. Even recently, 42 children were also abducted in Borno State.

“The government is trying, but they are not doing enough. It appears the government of Bola Tinubu is overwhelmed when it comes to tackling insecurity.

“Now, when children no longer feel safe in school, going to school will stop being interesting to them. They may begin to withdraw because when they hear stories of children being kidnapped from schools, they will tell their parents they do not want to go to school anymore,” he said.

Explaining why the initiative focused on Oshodi, Ozuribo described the area as one of the communities where children faced difficult living conditions.

“When you mention Oshodi, Agege, Mushin or Ajegunle, these are places we are currently focusing on.

“When you look around, you notice that children from such areas often grow up under tougher conditions compared to children raised in places like Ikeja, Magodo, Ikoyi or Lekki,” he said.

He disclosed that the foundation had obtained approval from the Oshodi Local Government to carry out sensitisation programmes in public primary schools within the area.

Ozuribo said the foundation hoped to reach as many Nigerian children as possible through its advocacy and awareness campaigns.

The highlight of the sensitisation included practical lectures on identifying sexual abuse, bullying and how to report them.

  

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Lagosians Will Soon Start Paying Rent Monthly And Quarterly - Commissioner For Housing

The Lagos State Government has said plans are being finalised to introduce a monthly and quarterly rent payment system aimed at reducing the financial

burden of annual rent on residents, especially low-income earners.

The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the third year of

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office, held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

Akinderu-Fatai said the initiative was conceived following the success of the state’s rent-to-own housing policy, which allows beneficiaries to make an

initial five per cent payment and spread the balance over 10 years.

According to him, “Lagos State Government introduced a rent-to-own scheme that allows tenants to own their homes by paying an initial five per cent and

then spreading payments over 10 years.”

The commissioner explained that the government was looking beyond home ownership to ease rental pressures on Lagos residents through a more flexible payment

structure.

“The success of this initiative encouraged the need to promote the implementation of monthly and quarterly rent to provide succour to rent seekers,” he

said.

He added, “This will replace the burden of yearly rent payment, especially for low-income earners.”

Akinderu-Fatai, however, noted that certain challenges were still delaying the rollout of the policy.

“Factors impeding the take-off of this initiative are being examined with the engagement of all direct and indirect stakeholders in the real estate business,”

he said.

The commissioner nevertheless assured Lagos residents that the government remained committed to implementing the scheme.

“I want to use this medium to reaffirm the state government’s commitment to this programme and that plans are being perfected to effect the pilot phase

of this initiative,” he stated.

The proposed rent payment structure comes amid rising housing pressure in Lagos, which the commissioner described as the epicentre of Nigeria’s housing

demand due to rapid urban migration and population growth.

  

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Lagos Adds Ante Natal, Surgery, Others To Health Insurance Scheme

Lagos State residents enrolled in the free one-year health insurance package launched by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority can now access major and minor surgeries, antenatal and postnatal care, specialist consultations and family planning services.

The authority disclosed this during a medical outreach to residents of Festac.

During the outreach, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Bashir Are, represented by Kazeem Olanipekun, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to extending quality healthcare to all corners of Lagos.

He said the free health insurance scheme being undertaken for Lagosians is being implemented at the directive of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with a mandate and commitment to improving the well-being of Lagos citizens through a series of strategic health interventions.

Are said, “We try as much as possible to reach every part of Lagos State. This programme, created by the Lagos State Health and Management Agency, is intended to provide quality healthcare services to residents in towns and communities that make up the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State.

“At the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, we are supporting the State to reach as many people as possible, because it’s a State Government mandate. We are giving this opportunity to our people for quality and proper Ilera Eko; our people must be healthy. Now, our people can access sound and quality healthcare in almost all the hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the Country.”

A representative of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, Lucas Aladeusi, stressed that the scheme was not restricted to public facilities.

“We need to tell Lagosians that we are not restricted to public hospitals and primary healthcare centres, we are also partnering with private hospitals and clinics within and outside Lagos State,” he said.

Aladeusi added that the agency had significantly expanded the scope of available services under the package.

“The Agency has gone a step further by expanding the access to minor and major surgeries, clinical tests, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, in addition to the patient’s registration, general and specialist consultations, among others,” he stated.

He noted that the outreach had already covered Lagos Island, Agege and Ikorodu before arriving at Festac, adding that the scheme was open to all residents who live and work in Lagos State.

“The scheme is social health insurance scheme by the Lagos State Government to ensure that people that live and work in Lagos State have access to quality, affordable and accessible healthcare. So, today, we are partnering with the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority to provide free health insurance services for the people of the State,” Aladeusi said.

Earlier in May, the authority said it secured a free health insurance package for 1,320 residents across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The free package, offered under the ILERA EKO scheme in partnership with the Lagos State Health Management Agency, covers 1,320 residents across the state’s three senatorial districts for one year.

The ILERA EKO scheme, launched by the state government to drive universal health coverage, is designed to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for residents and improve access to quality healthcare services across public and private facilities accredited by the Lagos State Health Management Agency.

  

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Ebola: No Suspected Cases In Lagos, Health Commissioner Assures

The Lagos State Government has assured residents that there are no confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease in the state amid concerns over outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a statement, said there was no cause for alarm, stressing that no suspected case of Ebola had been detected in Lagos.

Abayomi explained that, as a major entry point into Nigeria, Lagos was closely monitoring developments surrounding the Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda, in line with directives from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following the spread of a rare strain of the virus with no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

There have been more than 1,000 suspected cases and over 250 reported deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has assured Nigerians that there is no need to panic.

According to the NCDC, the country has the capacity to combat the disease as it is actively maintaining nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness measures.

On May 24, 2026, the Nigeria Immigration Service allayed the fears that the country’s land borders can serve as unchecked entry points for the Ebola virus currently ravaging DRC and Uganda.

Speaking further, Abayomi said Lagos’ robust and tested biosecurity architecture remains fully activated and prepared to detect, contain, and respond rapidly to Ebola and any biological threat.

According to him, Lagos has, over the years, built a resilient and outbreak-tested biosecurity system designed for continuous year-round preparedness and response against high-consequence infectious diseases, including Ebola, Lassa Fever, and Influenza.

“The Lagos Biosecurity Bio-shield was built to protect and remains ready to respond to biological shocks. Preparedness for us is not a temporary reaction; it is a permanent culture embedded within our health system.

“The State’s preparedness framework was first rigorously tested during the Ebola outbreak and significantly strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains actively engaged in responding to recurrent public health challenges, such as Cholera, Diphtheria, and Lassa Fever outbreaks,” the commissioner said.

Abayomi highlighted Lagos’ readiness architecture to include Lagos Incident Command System, which enables the rapid deployment of government resources and ensures seamless executive coordination during public health emergencies, and is led directly by Sanwo-Olu as Incident Commander.

He said the Lagos State Emergency Operations Centre remains operational around the clock, with a dedicated network of highly trained epidemiologists and disease surveillance specialists who can be rapidly deployed for outbreak investigation and containment.

According to him, the Lagos State Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, continues to maintain a state of readiness through its infectious disease specialists.

Abayomi added that the Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory and Biobank Facility located within the hospital remains on enhanced surveillance operations for the real-time diagnosis and monitoring of high-risk pathogens.

He said the government was in collaboration with the Port Health Authorities for proper scrutiny.

“All flights arriving from East and Central Africa are receiving heightened public health attention and scrutiny as part of precautionary measures to strengthen early detection and risk mitigation,” he said.

The commissioner noted that Lagos has integrated community health workers, community development associations, and civil society organisations into its early warning and disease surveillance network.

Additionally, he said strategic emergency stockpiles, including personal protective equipment, gloves, sanitizers, and other critical commodities, have been pre-positioned across key locations.

He noted that ambulance services remain strategically deployed to support rapid emergency response.

“Our focus remains firmly on prevention, early detection, prompt reporting, and swift multi-sectoral response. Lagos remains vigilant, organised, and safe,” Abayomi said.

Abayomi advised residents, particularly those who recently travelled to affected areas in Congo or Uganda, or who have had close contact with individuals returning from those countries and have medical concerns, to promptly seek guidance through emergency channels.

  

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