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Adeyanju hits back at Obi over defamation charge

Published

8 months ago

August 29, 2025

Adeyanju hits back at Obi over defamation charge

Lawyer and political activist Deji Adeyanju has opened up on his past encounters with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing him as a “political fraud” while reacting to a defamation suit filed against him.

Adeyanju made the revelation on Friday morning during Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme, where he narrated how his early excitement about Obi’s candidacy later turned into disappointment.

“I’m just expressing my thoughts about why the opposition should come together and unite against the criminal APC and roguish APC government that always rig elections, that if the opposition is divided, that there’s no way they can win,” Adeyanju said.

He explained that the idea of Obi’s candidacy initially appealed to him.

“The idea of the Obi candidacy excited me, and I said that he needed a buy-in of Atiku and Konkosu. I even urged Konkosu to deputize Obi. I urged Atiku to step down for Peter Obi,” he stated.

According to Adeyanju, Obi persistently sought to meet with him after his comments.

“So then Peter Obi, all of a sudden, started trying to reach out to me, to meet me. But at that time, I was out of the country… So he was persistently reaching out to me, and I was avoiding him,” he said.

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Adeyanju said he eventually met Obi through one of his aides but was left unimpressed by Obi’s defense over corruption allegations.

“I now made some observations about the things that he has been accused of doing in the past… Then I also raised the issue about these issues of him using state resources in Anambra to invest in his family business. His explanation to me in his defense was that he had resigned from the company before he became a governor. I was flabbergasted… I was completely disgusted.”

He further alleged that Obi attempted to offer him an envelope during the meeting.

“Then he got into a room and said, oh, please, he’s coming. That he wants to go inside the room and he has something for me. So he brought one envelope or something like that. And said, no, this is just a small thing. It’s just for company. I said, oh, I laughed… I said, God forbid.”

The activist also criticized Obi’s political judgment during the Ekiti election, alleging that his supporters responded with online attacks.
“I criticized and said, you should be in Ekiti and not in Egypt. And I said, because you want to be president, you must go and campaign for your candidate and try to win… Some of these young boys that are around him… they insulted me… I said, me?”

He accused Obi’s supporters, popularly known as Obidients, of political intolerance.

“We cannot have a situation in our country or in our polity where political extremism becomes the order of the day… After the Buharis, the obedient mob is the most toxic political movement that we have ever witnessed in this country. They’re threatening Supreme Court judges, Court of Appeal court judges, threatening artists, threatening Professor Wole Showinka, insulting everybody in this country. Because of Peter.”

On Obi’s political character, Adeyanju maintained,
“What are the things I said? I said he’s a political fraud. That he’s parading himself as a messiah. Of course he is a political fraud… The only thing that I forgot to say, among the things that he should not add to his defamation suit, is that he’s a political prostitute. He’s a political prostitute.”

He added that Obi’s current political moves contradict his earlier stance.

“Look at what he said about the people that he wanted to defeat in the last election. He said they operate a structure of criminality. But today he’s with them. He has one leg in PDP, they are discussing with him. Another leg in ADC. And he’s still a member of a Labour Party. So if you do, it’s worse.”

Adeyanju insisted that his remarks were truthful and therefore defensible.

“In a civil suit or criminal suit of defamation, justification, truth is a defense,” he said.

Adeyanju hits back at Obi over defamation charge

Related Topics:Adeyanju Defamation Featured Obi political fraud

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Arise News Yet to Confirm Reported Suspension of Rufai Oseni

Published

12 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Rufai Oseni

Arise News Yet to Confirm Reported Suspension of Rufai Oseni

Reports circulating online suggest that Rufai Oseni, a prominent anchor with Arise News, has been suspended by the station, but the development remains unverified as of press time.

The claim, which began trending on social media platforms and was later amplified by various online posts, has not been officially confirmed by Arise News management or by Oseni himself.

As of now, there is no statement from Arise News, no internal memo made public, and no confirmation from credible mainstream media outlets regarding the alleged suspension.

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The lack of official confirmation means the story remains at the level of a developing report, with details still unclear, including the reason for the alleged suspension, its duration, or whether any disciplinary action has indeed been taken.

Rufai Oseni is one of Arise News’ most recognisable broadcasters, known for his hard-hitting interviews and political analysis programmes, which has contributed to the wide attention the report is currently generating online.

Media observers note that in situations like this, verification from official sources is necessary before the claim can be treated as confirmed news.

For now, the alleged suspension remains unconfirmed, and further updates are expected once Arise News or the broadcaster issues an official statement.

Arise News Yet to Confirm Reported Suspension of Rufai Oseni

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Court Grants Bail to El-Rufai in ICPC Corruption Case

Published

13 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

Court Grants Bail to El-Rufai in ICPC Corruption Case

The Federal High Court has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is facing multiple corruption-related charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The ruling marks a major development in the high-profile trial, although full details of the bail conditions were not immediately disclosed at the time of filing this report. The court’s decision comes amid intensified legal proceedings involving several corruption allegations linked to his time in office.

El-Rufai’s bail was granted shortly after he appeared before a Kaduna State High Court under heavy security for a related proceeding concerning a separate bail application in another ICPC-linked case. The back-to-back court appearances reflect the complexity and multi-layered nature of the cases against the former governor.

Court proceedings were reportedly conducted under tight security, with journalists initially restricted from accessing the courtroom, further heightening public interest in the matter.

During earlier sittings, the prosecution was said to have amended the charge sheet, restructuring the case from an initial joint trial involving El-Rufai and a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, to a sole-defendant arrangement after Sule was dropped from the case.

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The defence counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ubong Akpan, reportedly expressed surprise over the amended charges, stating that the new documents were served in court without prior notice, which contributed to delays in the proceedings.

The case was subsequently adjourned to April 14, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, which has now resulted in the Federal High Court granting bail.

The ICPC alleges that the former governor was involved in several financial infractions during his tenure, including the alleged release of about ₦11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.

He is also accused of approving and receiving approximately ₦289.8 million as severance allowance beyond legally permitted limits, alongside allegations of financial misconduct involving a World Bank-linked loan reportedly valued at over $1.08 million.

Other allegations include the controversial award of a ₦4.6 billion CCTV surveillance contract in Kaduna State allegedly in violation of procurement laws, as well as claims of conspiracy to obstruct or influence federal investigators.

In a separate case before the Federal High Court, El-Rufai is also facing additional charges bordering on money laundering, conversion, and alleged unlawful possession of public assets.

He has consistently denied all allegations, insisting that his administration followed due process in all financial and contractual decisions.

The ICPC has not yet issued an updated statement following the bail ruling, while further proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks as the court determines the substantive issues in the case.

The development adds to growing national attention on anti-corruption enforcement and the prosecution of high-profile political figures in Nigeria, particularly amid renewed debates over governance accountability and public financial management.

Court Grants Bail to El-Rufai in ICPC Corruption Case

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Bauchi Governor Presents Over 114 Vehicles to Emirs, District Heads

Published

13 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Bauchi Governor Presents Over 114 Vehicles to Emirs, District Heads

Governor Bala Mohammed has presented more than 114 official vehicles to newly appointed emirs and district heads across Bauchi State, in a move aimed at strengthening traditional institutions in Nigeria and improving grassroots governance.

The presentation took place on Monday, April 13, 2026, and was officially announced by the governor via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle. He described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to deepen community engagement, enhance local administration, and promote closer collaboration between government and traditional rulers.

According to the governor, the distribution of vehicles is designed to support traditional leaders in performing their duties more effectively, particularly in areas of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and community mobilisation.

He stated that his administration remains committed to ensuring that both existing and newly created emirates, chiefdoms, and districts are adequately supported to make governance more inclusive and responsive at the grassroots level.

Bauchi Governor Presents Over 114 Vehicles to Emirs, District Heads

The governor also emphasized the importance of peace and stability in Bauchi State, urging traditional rulers to remain non-partisan and uphold the highest standards of integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

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He noted that traditional institutions remain critical partners in maintaining security and promoting development across communities, adding that their role in mobilising citizens cannot be overstated.

The Bauchi State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, led by Commissioner Isa Babayo Tilde, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with traditional rulers, describing them as essential stakeholders in maintaining order and ensuring effective governance.

The Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, who spoke on behalf of other traditional leaders, expressed appreciation to the state government and assured that the vehicles would be used responsibly for official duties and the benefit of the people.

The fleet of vehicles reportedly includes 14 GMC saloon cars, Toyota buses, Toyota Hilux vans, and over 100 Toyota Camry cars allocated to district heads across the state.

Governor Mohammed, who was first elected in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and re-elected in 2023, has continued to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening local governance structures. His tenure is expected to end in 2027.

This is not the first time the administration has supported traditional institutions. In April 2022, the Bauchi State Government also distributed vehicles to district heads and local government chairpersons as part of similar empowerment initiatives.

While supporters describe the latest gesture as a boost to governance efficiency, critics often raise concerns about public spending priorities amid economic challenges in the country.