Court of Appeal Dismisses Aiyedatiwa’s Appeal in Case Challenging 2028 Re-Election Bid

Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, challenging an amendment to a suit seeking to bar him from contesting the 2028 governorship election.

In its ruling, the appellate court held that the amendment sought by the plaintiffs in the substantive suit was valid and should be allowed to stand.

Governor Aiyedatiwa had approached the appellate court to challenge the decision of the lower court which permitted the claimants to amend their originating processes in the case. The suit is aimed at determining whether the governor would be eligible to contest the 2028 governorship election in the state.

However, the Court of Appeal ruled that the amendment did not prejudice the governor’s defence and that the lower court acted within the law in granting the request.

The appellate court consequently dismissed Aiyedatiwa’s appeal for lacking merit and affirmed the earlier ruling that allowed the amendment of the suit.

The development means the substantive case seeking to restrain the governor from seeking re-election in 2028 will proceed at the lower court.

Governor Aiyedatiwa assumed office as governor following the death of former governor Rotimi Akeredolu in December 2023. The legal dispute revolves around interpretations of tenure and eligibility under Nigeria’s constitutional provisions governing gubernatorial terms.

Legal observers say the dismissal of the appeal clears the way for the court to determine the core issue of whether Aiyedatiwa would be qualified to contest the 2028 governorship election.

Court of Appeal Dismisses Aiyedatiwa’s Appeal in Case Challenging 2028 Re-Election Bid

Students Escape as Four-Storey School Building Collapses in Lagos

Students and teachers of a school in the Ogba area of Lagos State narrowly escaped death on Monday after a four-storey building housing the institution suddenly collapsed moments after they evacuated the structure.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred shortly after school activities had begun when signs of structural distress were noticed in the building. Alarmed by unusual cracks and vibrations within the structure, teachers reportedly acted swiftly by evacuating the students from the premises.

Barely minutes after the evacuation was completed, the building reportedly gave way and collapsed, sending panic through the neighbourhood.

Residents and passersby rushed to the scene shortly after the collapse, while emergency responders were alerted. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the students and school staff had already moved to safety before the structure came down.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other rescue teams were said to have arrived at the scene to assess the situation and secure the area.

Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of the collapse, but structural failure and possible building defects are suspected. Investigations are expected to commence to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Building collapses have remained a recurring concern in Lagos, often attributed to poor construction practices, substandard materials, and inadequate regulatory oversight.

Further details are expected to emerge as emergency officials and relevant government agencies continue their assessment of the site.

Students Escape as Four-Storey School Building Collapses in Lagos

Petrol Jumps to N1,175/Litre as Dangote Refinery Raises Prices Again, Fresh Inflation Fears Loom

The cost of goods and services across Nigeria may rise further after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third upward price adjustment within a week.

The refinery announced the new price to marketers on Monday, raising the gantry price from N995 per litre announced on Friday, representing an increase of N180, or about 18.1 per cent, within three days.

The price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) was also revised upward to N1,620 per litre, further raising concerns among businesses that depend heavily on diesel-powered operations.

The latest development came hours after The PUNCH reported that petrol prices could rise again following the refinery’s temporary suspension of petrol sales on Sunday, which had triggered concerns about supply disruptions and potential price adjustments.

A senior official of the refinery, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed the new pricing structure.

“Yes, the gantry prices have been adjusted. PMS is now N1,175 per litre while Automotive Gas Oil is N1,620 per litre,” the official said.

“The market has been extremely volatile, and replacement costs have shifted significantly in recent days. These adjustments reflect prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”

Checks on the industry pricing platform petroleumprice.ng showed that the revised rates had already been updated across depot pricing systems used by downstream operators, signalling a new benchmark price for fuel marketers.

The latest increase represents the third price surge within a week, after petrol prices earlier rose from N774 per litre to N995 per litre.

As a result, retail pump prices in several parts of the country have already crossed the N1,000 per litre mark, with some filling stations selling petrol for as high as N1,200 per litre.

Industry analysts warn that the increase could trigger another wave of price adjustments nationwide, as higher fuel costs typically drive up transportation, logistics, and production expenses, which are ultimately passed on to consumers.

The development also comes amid efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to secure crude oil supplies for the Dangote refinery through third-party international traders in order to sustain domestic refining operations.

However, officials caution that such interventions may not immediately translate into lower pump prices, as the domestic fuel market continues to adjust to prevailing global crude oil costs and foreign exchange pressures.

For millions of Nigerians already grappling with rising living costs, the latest petrol hike is expected to intensify inflationary pressures and further strain household budgets.