News
Outrage As FG Demolishes 12 Churches, Mosques In Lagos
There has been outrage over the demolition of 12 churches and two mosques on 2nd Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos State, by officials of the Federal Housing Authority.
A market and a car mart were also affected in the exercise carried out on Sunday, JomogNews Nigeria reports.
According to Punch Metro the demolition started around 5am and continued till around 3pm.
The leader of the Gate of Righteousness Evangelical International Church, Pastor Joshua Obong, said he started his ministry in the community 18 years ago and wondered why his church was targeted for demolition.
He said, “The officials first came last week and started marking our buildings. After they were done, they left and returned two days later. That was when they gave us a seven-day notice, which expired last Wednesday.
“On Sunday morning, around 5am, we suddenly saw bulldozers at the First Gate, FESTAC Town. They got to my church at exactly 11am; they demolished all the churches along the road, except the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Communion Chapel and CPM, which they spared. All other churches were brought down.”
Obong said there was no other warning prior to the seven-day notice.
He claimed that the government took advantage of the strike action by judicial workers, adding that nobody could approach the court for injunctions to stop the demolition.
“We wrote to them, seeking extension of time, but the letter was not even acknowledged,” he added.
The Overseer of Christ Gospel Church International, Pastor William Ehiorenren, said a senior government official had advised them to send a lawyer to Abuja to sort out the matter.
He stated, “He promised that they would not touch any church till the lawyer returned. Our lawyer was still in Abuja when they came on Sunday, a day of service, and demolished our churches. The lawyer called all their staff members, but they switched off their phones.
One of the marked houses “We heard that they want to re-allocate the land and sell to moneybags and make millions. I have not seen where seven days would be given for people to vacate their property.
“We have been in that area for years and we spent millions of naira in building our churches. They could not even give us time to move, because they had mapped out their evil plan to sell the land to people.”
Ehiorenren said his church usually paid tenancy rates to landlords, who he claimed had legal claims to the land.
The cleric accused the government of leaving certain churches, because their leaders had political connections.
He explained that his church was not served any notice of demolition.
The Deputy Director, Social Security and Intergovernmental Relations, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, said 12 churches were demolished by the government.
He explained that the owners of the churches cleared a swamp and built their structures, adding that the affected worship centres had been in the community for between 13 and 20 years.
According to him, the government accused the pastors of “encroachment and erecting illegal structures.”
Otoibhi, however, queried why the demolition was carried out without adequate notice and while some of the occupants were asleep.
He said, “We are wondering why the government would do this on a Sunday. Are they now working on Sundays? Is it the government that is doing this or somebody that is powerful in government or a politician is behind this?
“The notice they sent to them, they called it final notice, without serving them any previous letter. We asked that they should be given time. We were discussing this when the bulldozers came in on Sunday morning. The first church was pulled down at exactly 5.45am. Aside from the churches, they also cleared those selling cars in that line. Only a few buildings were spared.”
The cleric said a protest was planned for today (Tuesday) to kick against the “shabby manner” in which the churches were treated.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, did not take his calls or respond to a text message from our correspondent over the matter.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, did not take his calls, which rang out several times.
However, an official of the agency, who did not identify himself, said the government would address the matter during a press conference on Wednesday.
He explained that the government was in the process of restoring FESTAC Town to its original plan.
“Ask those people for their letters of allocation and approved building plans. They don’t have them. So, if you have been staying on somebody’s land illegally for over 15 years, how does the person owe you adequate notice? What notice are they talking about?” he queried.
News
MC Oluomo Retakes NURTW Secretariat In Abuja Following Clashes
Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has regained control of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) national secretariat in Abuja.
This follows a highly volatile 24-hour period marked by a leadership struggle between MC Oluomo and a rival faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa.
MC Oluomo returned to the secretariat to inspect damaged property following the takeover, according to a video shared by TVC on X.
The development followed an earlier move on Monday by a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa, which occupied the secretariat, claiming that court rulings supported its action.
Baruwa, who addressed journalists after the occupation, maintained that his faction acted within the law and in line with court decisions.
“Their body language has not been encouraging despite repeated assurance that we are not going back to foment any trouble, as we are a law-abiding union whose only mission is to get back what belongs to us,” he said.
“But today, as you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner, and it is not a forceful takeover but just carrying out the court’s orders,” he added.
He said the police had been formally notified and provided with copies of the judgments but alleged that the response was not encouraging.
“Again, please be aware that our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but they refused to obey court orders after waiting for about two years. We decided to resume at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are,” he said.
Baruwa also alleged that one of his members was attacked during the process.
“Although the other faction attacked one of our members, who is now in the hospital, the situation is under control. We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organisation and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” Baruwa stated.
Reacting on Monday via his Instagram page, MC Oluomo described the development as a “forceful takeover” and insisted that legal proceedings were still ongoing.
He said he was not a defendant in the judgment cited by Baruwa and disclosed that the ruling had been appealed, with a stay of execution already secured.
“The National President wishes to inform members of the union and the general public that he was not a defendant in the purported judgment.
“The judgment has been appealed, and a stay of execution has been duly entered. He has not engaged with Mr Baruwa or any individual, aware that cases are pending in court.
“The situation is under the control of security agencies. Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya remains the National President of NURTW,” the statement read.
Akinsanya urged union members to remain calm and law-abiding as the leadership dispute continues.
Tribune Online reports that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday arrested Baruwa and six others following the incident.
News
Biola Bayo Deletes Baba Ijesha Interview From All Platforms After Nigerians React
Nollywood actress and podcaster Biola Bayo (Abiola Adebayo) has deleted her controversial interview with convicted actor Baba Ijesha from her Instagram and YouTube channels following intense public backlash.
The decision to take down the content came after Nigerians criticized the platforming of a convicted child molester, accusing Bayo of helping him downplay his crimes and “reopen wounds” for the victim.
In the now-deleted interview, Baba Ijesha addressed the story behind the se,xual assault that led to his conviction.
He insisted that he is neither a rap!st nor a pedophile, maintaining his innocence despite the controversy surrounding the case and serving a JAIL TERM.
During the conversation, the actor also expressed disappointment towards Damilola Adekoya, also known as Comedian Princess, accusing her of betraying those close to her.
He further spoke about Iyabo Ojo, stating that he felt hurt by her reaction to the situation.
The interview quickly sparked outrage online, with many criticizing both the actor’s remarks and Biola Bayo’s decision to host the conversation.
As the backlash intensified, the actress has now removed the video from her YouTube channel and restricted access to it on her Instagram page.
News
El-Rufai Denied Immediate Release; Bail Hearing Set For March 31
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai will remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after a Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned his bail application to March 31, 2026.
El-Rufai was brought before the court on Tuesday over charges bordering on conversion of public property and money laundering.
The charges were preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He was brought to court by security operatives at about 9:00 am in a Hilux vehicle and was held in the car for about 25 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom about 10 minutes later.
Security operatives were stationed in and around the court premises ahead of the hearing.
During the court proceedings, Ukpon Akpan, counsel to el-Rufai, asked the court to grant bail to his client to allow him prepare for his defense.
The argument was rejected by the prosecution counsel who argued that the bail could interfere with the commission’s investigation.
The former governor has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19 after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Since el-Rufai’s arrest, there have been several calls for his release or arraignment.
In ICPC custody, the former governor refused to respond to questions posed by investigators, citing his right to remain silent.
On March 5, the magistrate court extended the initial remand order for el-Rufai by another 14 days.
El-Rufai had filed a fundamental rights suit before the federal high court in Abuja over the search conducted on his residence by the ICPC and the remand order issued on February 19.
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