A yet-to-be identified driver of a commercial bus has allegedly set ablaze himself, his bus and a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, officer.

The driver was allegedly attempting to evade arrest over traffic offence.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who confirmed the incident, said it happened on Tuesday morning.

Bakare-Oki stated: “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has been made aware of a distressing video showing the driver of a Volkswagen T4 commercial bus, license plate LSD 355 CK, setting both his vehicle and LASTMA officers ablaze in a brazen attempt to evade arrest.

“This shocking incident happened on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, when the driver resisted arrest with extreme aggression by LASTMA officials.

“The vehicle had been intercepted for violating traffic regulations in the Cele inward Mile-2 area.

“In the course of arrest, the driver and his conductor erupted into a frenzy, resorting to pouring petrol on LASTMA personnel and engaging in hostile confrontations and physical attacks against officers present.

“The injured LASTMA officer, who sustained severe burns, was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.

“LASTMA reiterates its unwavering commitment to preserving order and ensuring the safety of Lagos roads, as stipulated in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.”

He, however, strongly urged all commercial and other drivers to comply fully with traffic regulations and respect the authority of LASTMA personnel.

“LASTMA will not condone any form of violence or intimidation and will take firm and decisive action against those responsible,” Bakare-Oki vowed.

A Kano state high court has restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the accountant-general of federal (AGF) and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) from withholding funds for the 44 LGAs in the state.

Ibrahim Musa-Muhammad, the presiding judge, granted the interim order on Wednesday while ruling on an ex parte application brought by Ibrahim Muhammed, chair of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and five others.

Counsels to the applicants, Bashir Yusuf-Muhammad and Usman Bala-Salisu, expressed concerns over the possible withholding or delay of allocations essential for local governance in the state.

The court granted the application restraining the 45th and 46th respondents either by themselves, their agents, officers, privies, representatives from “refusing to disburse or delaying to disburse, deferring or suspending the monthly allocation or in any way tampering with the allocation from the federation account to the 44 LGAs pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice”.

Musa-Muhammad also granted the applicants permission to serve the court processes on the 45th, 46th and 47th respondents by substituted service.

The court adjourned the matter until November 21, for hearing the motion on notice.

The other respondents are Ibrahim Shehu, Ibrahim Abubakar, Usman Isa, Sarki Kurawa and Usman Imam.

The respondents are the AGF, the 45th defendant; CBN, the 46th defendant; RMAFC, the 47th defendant; the 44 Kano LGAs; United Bank for Africa; Access Bank; and six other commercial banks.

President Bola Tinubu has postponed this week’s federal executive council (FEC) meeting over the death of Taoreed Lagbaja, the ex-chief of army staff (COAS).

Lagbaja died in Lagos following an undisclosed ailment.

In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu “ordered rescheduling of the Federal Executive Council meeting till another date to be announced”.

The president also directed that flags be flown at half-staff nationwide for a week in honour of the late army chief.

“Initially scheduled for today, the council meeting was postponed in honour of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who passed away on Tuesday night,” the statement adds.

“General Lagbaja served as the Chief of Army Staff from June 19, 2023, till his death on November 5, 2024.

“President Tinubu also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for seven days in honour of the departed general.

“Earlier today, President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Lagbaja family and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“He wished Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honoured his significant contributions to the nation.”