Politics
$620,000 Bribe: CLO Rejects Otedola’s Position
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) yesterday said that the president of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd., Mr Femi Otedola, should not determine the manner in which the nation’s lawmakers should hear him.
Otedola, on Tuesday demanded a public hearing when he appeared before the House of Representatives’ Ethics and Privileges Committee.
The committee is probing the $620,000 bribe allegation between him and the former chairman of the House Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Mr Farouk Lawan.
Otedola declined to testify in secret, saying he wanted Nigerians to be part of the deliberations.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the state chairman of the CLO, Mr Ehi Omokhuale, said that Otedola should not dictate the pace for the committee.
“Despite certain odds, the Nigerian House of Representatives is an institution that must be respected.
“We are not against Otedola’s wishes to be heard in public, but he should not be allowed to dictate to the house,’’ he said.
Omokhuale noted that while the CLO supported a public hearing, it should be at the discretion of the House.
According to him, whether in private or in public, Otedola must respect the nation’s House of Representatives as an institution.
He, however, decried the slow pace of the investigations both by the lawmakers and the anti graft/security agencies that should have taken up the matter.
“A matter of this nature should be swiftly handled. The exchange of words, demands and revelations of so called audio tapes by the media is becoming ridiculous.
“The whole scenario is turning into a comedy and is further affecting the nation’s image negatively’’ he said.
The CLO chairman urged the executive arm of government to wade into the matter with directives that could compel those in charge to take the necessary actions.
“No man is above the law and we must not be seen as placing one man above the law,’’ he said.
Omokhuale called for the immediate suspension of Otedola as a member of the nation’s economic team, pending the conclusion of the issues involving him over his alleged offering of bribe to Lawan.
Politics
Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
Politics
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Politics
Alleged Smear Campaign Against Yakubu, CSOs Demand Apology From Uzodimma

During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
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