A bill seeking to create a new state in the south-south geopolitical zone has passed second reading in the house of representatives.

The proposed legislation, which is co-sponsored by Godwin Offiono from Cross River, and three other lawmakers — scaled second reading during plenary on Thursday.

The lawmakers are proposing to alter the 1999 constitution to create Ogoja state from Cross River.

The bill was voted for when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.

The presiding officer referred the bill to the committee on constitutional review.

This adds to the plethora of bills seeking to create new states in the country.

LEGISLATIVE HURDLE

The national assembly is currently amending the 1999 Constitution.

In January, Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, said the amendment would be completed in December 2025.

Amending the constitution to create a new state or adjust boundaries is an arduous task.

Section 8(1) of the constitution stipulates that a new state can only be created if it is supported by “at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of the following, namely — “(i) the Senate and the House of Representatives. (ii) the House of Assembly in respect of the area”.

“(iii) And the local government councils in respect of the area is received by the National Assembly; (b) a proposal for the creation of the State is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for the creation of the state originated.

“(c) The result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the states of the Federation, supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly.

“(d) The proposal is approved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.”

No state has been created since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

Lagos State Government will be diverting traffic away from a section of Ajose Adeogun Street on Victoria Island for an end-of-year decoration by Zenith Bank Plc.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Osiyemi said that the diversion would be for three weekends starting from Oct. 19.

He said that the exercise would be carried out in three phases with each phase focusing on different sections of the street.

“To this end, the following alternative routes have been mapped out for motorists during the mounting:

“During the first phase which will cover Jubril Martins to Chicken Republic on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, traffic inward Eko-Hotel Roundabout will be diverted to the other half (existing section) of Ajose Adeogun Street by VCP Hotel to form contra-flow traffic, and exit at Eko-Hotel Roundabout.

“Alternatively, traffic inward Eko-Hotel Roundabout from VCP Hotel will be diverted through Jubril Martins into Muri Okunola to link Patience Coker and access Ajose Adeogun Street to connect destinations,” he said.

He said that the second phase would cover the Molade Okoya Thomas to Mounis Bashorun section and would take place on Oct. 26 and Oct. 27.

He added that traffic inward Ajose Adeogun Street from Eko-Hotel Roundabout would be diverted to a right turn into Molade Okoya Thomas to link Mounis Bashorun to access Ajose Adeogun Street to continue journeys.

“During the third phase of the project spanning 10 metres inward Ajose Adeogun on Nov. 2, motorists from Adetokunbo Ademola Street will maintain a lane movement for about 10 metres into Ajose Adeogun Street to connect their destinations.

“Motorists inward Eko-Hotel Roundabout on Ajose Adeogun Street will maintain a lane movement for about 10 metres into Eko-Hotel Roundabout,” he said.

Osiyemi implored motorists to note the ease of movement plan, assuring them that traffic managers would be on the ground in the corridor to minimise inconveniences.

Chairman/CEO of Global Signature Hotel and Total Grace Group Limited, Dr. Henry Akinduro, has filed a N5 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly declaring him wanted unlawfully.

In the suit filed, yesterday, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, Akinduro is arguing that the EFCC declared him wanted without any form of judicial intervention, recourse to constitutional safeguards or order of court.

The EFCC had on October 11, 2024, on its official twitter handle, also known as ‘X’ declared the oil magnate ‘Wanted’.

The businessman is praying the court to order the EFCC to remove his name from the wanted list published on the commission’s official website or any other related platform including X.

On October 14, 2024, the businessman, via his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, had petitioned the Chairman of EFCC over the unconstitutional violation of his fundamental human rights to personal liberty and human dignity by the publication of his name on the list of wanted persons on the EFCC’s website.

Ojo stated in the petition that at all times preceding the said publication, there was no order of any court of competent jurisdiction authorizing the said publication and no charge had been preferred against our client before any court of law.

According to Akinduro’s lawyer, the commission had allegedly made the said illegal or unlawful publication declaring him wanted upon the prompting or instigation of one Mr. Femi Olushakin, who had earlier written a petition against the oil magnate in respect of a N240 million contractual dispute between them, Messrs Olushakin and Akinduro.

He affirmed that disputes had arisen from the investment agreement entered into between the two men leading to Olushakin petitioning EFCC.

“Our client (Akinduro) was invited by the commission on June 4, 2024, and he immediately responded via letter dated June 5, 2024, notifying the commission of his unavailability due to medical reasons. In the said letter, it was stated therein that our client was out of the country receiving medical attention.

“He subsequently provided assurances that he would be present at the commission as soon as he was medically cleared to travel. It is pertinent at this juncture to chronicle the genesis of the subject matter which led to the declaration of our client wanted by the commission,” Ojo stated.

The counsel disclosed that there was a business transaction between Akinduro and Olushakin which was backed by a viable collateral which included Akinduro’s Global Signature Hotel worth N500 million, three 60-Seater Yutong buses valued at over N240 million and a Toyota 4Runner SUV.

Ojo claimed that Olushakin has sold the three 60-Seater Yutong buses and currently drives around the city in the Toyota 4Runner SUV which were used as collateral by Akinduro.

“It is clear from the above that this is a purely civil business transaction with no element of criminality embedded in it. Mr. Olushakin petitioned the commission after selling the 60-Seater Yutong buses and currently using the Toyota 4runner SUV for his personal use,” he stated.

He added that despite Akinduro’s medical condition overseas, he has maintained close communication with the commission.

“Our client regularly sends his Legal Officer to the commission, affirming his willingness and desire to appear before the commission upon due confirmation of his being fit to travel by his doctors. There was no further request by the commission inviting our client before the unlawful publication.

“It is to be further noted that on October 11, 2024, our client’s Legal Officer was physically present at the office of the commission about noon to submit a correspondence to the commission and he also reassured the operatives of the commission of our client’s desire and willingness to cooperate with the investigation by the commission upon his arrival in Nigeria.

“It is regrettable that despite the repeated reassurances of our client to cooperate with the investigation upon his arrival in Nigeria, the commission proceeded to declare our client ‘Wanted’ later that same day about 7.20p.m., without an order of court and in the absence of a valid charge in a court of law.”