The Sun Reporters

Justice Omotosho sentenced Nnamdi Kanu to life Imprisonment

Lekki Flood: Residents Accuse Sanwo-Olu of Protecting Developers, Neglecting Drainage Plan

Residents of Ikota and parts of Lekki on Lagos Island have raised concerns after Tuesday’s heavy downpour turned their neighbourhoods into flood zones, submerging homes, shops, and entire streets.

Images and videos showed residents wading through knee-deep water, trying to salvage personal belongings while businesses were left in ruins.

“This is no way to live,” one distraught resident lamented. “Every rainfall is a disaster. We are losing everything while the government watches.”

The residents blamed the recurring flooding on man-made causes, particularly illegal structures erected on canals and drainage systems such as the System 156 and 157 channels. They accused developers of blocking waterways and faulted the Lagos State government for failing to enforce planning regulations.

“Until the government restores this area according to the original master plan, the flooding will not stop,” another homeowner said, speaking while standing in knee-deep water.

Urban planners confirm that Lagos’ master plan prohibits construction on waterways, but enforcement has been weak and, at times, selective. Many residents believe powerful developers are shielded from sanctions, leaving ordinary citizens to suffer the consequences.

The impact of the flooding goes beyond property damage. Families are displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and stagnant water raises the risk of disease outbreaks. Environmental advocates warn that Lagos faces a looming disaster unless canals are urgently cleared and illegal encroachments removed.

“Every illegal structure is a ticking time bomb for nearby communities once the rains return,” an activist cautioned.

The Lagos State government also attributed Tuesday’s flooding in Lekki to infractions such as illegal construction and indiscriminate waste disposal. The Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, acknowledged the situation in a statement on his X account, sympathising with affected residents.

Traffic chaos worsened the crisis, with many commuters unable to reach their destinations until late at night—some as late as midnight. Frustrated residents took to social media to lament their plight and urged the state government to take decisive action.

Emir Sanusi: Nigeria Stuck on Tribe and Religion While Others Debate AI, Climate Change

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has criticized Nigeria’s leadership, saying the country has suffered from poor governance for too long. Speaking at the second Kano International Poetry Festival (KAPFEST) on Saturday, Sanusi lamented that Nigeria remains entangled in ethnic and religious divisions while other nations focus on pressing global issues.

He stressed that good governance is the only way to rescue Nigeria from its current state. According to him, “A nation rises and falls with the quality of its leadership, and Nigeria has endured ineffective leaders for a long time. In many cases, when you look at those in power, you wonder how we got here. Every day, the newspapers and legislature reflect petty debates and wasted time on irrelevant matters.”

Sanusi contrasted Nigeria’s political discourse with global conversations, noting that while other countries are addressing challenges like climate change and artificial intelligence, Nigeria is still debating ethnicity and religion—issues that dominated discussions as far back as the 1960s.

He urged young Nigerians to take charge of the nation’s future, arguing that with determination, they could replace the older generation currently in control. He also warned that the government’s reckless borrowing and spending habits could have damaging long-term effects on the economy.

Earlier, PWI Creative Director, Nasiba Babale, explained that this year’s KAPFEST, themed “Poetry in a Time of Crisis”, was organized to remind poets of their role in using art to advocate for peace amid the challenges facing Northern Nigeria.

Katsina Governor Opens Up on Ongoing Negotiations With Bandits

Katsina State Governor, Umar Radda, has confirmed that his administration is engaged in ongoing peace negotiations with bandits, despite previously distancing himself from such talks. He admitted that the truce has already brought a measure of stability to parts of the state.

Radda made the disclosure while launching an 18-month European Union–funded initiative titled Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience in Katsina, implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Mercy Corps. The project is designed to promote peace and socio-economic stability in Katsina and Zamfara states.

According to the governor, the approach is “community-owned, locally led, and culturally sensitive,” with active participation of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in its planning and ex*****on. He explained that through grassroots peace initiatives, crises have been resolved in four out of Katsina’s eight frontline local governments, while negotiations are ongoing in two others.

Radda also highlighted the devastating toll of banditry across communities such as Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Safana, Sabuwa, Faskari, and Dandume—where schools remain closed, farms deserted, markets shut, and many families displaced after years of violence.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has distanced itself from any form of financial settlement with bandits. Speaking on Channels Television, Chief of Defence Operations, Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, stressed that the Armed Forces do not support ransom payments, which he described as ineffective.

Instead, he pointed to the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor, currently active in Gombe and Zamfara states. The initiative, coordinated with the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National Security Adviser, is aimed at rehabilitating repentant criminals who surrender their weapons, undergo profiling, and renounce violence. Those found guilty of serious crimes, however, face prosecution.

Enugu Govt Dismisses Sujimoto CEO Ogundele’s Viral Video, Alleges N5.7bn Fraud

The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of orchestrating a “premeditated fraud” that allegedly cost the state nearly N6 billion.

In a statement released on Friday by Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, the government explained that Ogundele was awarded a contract worth over N11.4 billion on July 2, 2024, to build 22 Smart Green Schools within six months. The state paid him N5.76 billion—representing 50 percent of the contract sum—to accelerate the projects.

However, instead of delivering quality work as specified, Ogundele allegedly engaged unqualified workers, produced substandard construction, and ultimately abandoned the sites. According to the government, “none of the structures met the required integrity standards,” and Ogundele subsequently disappeared, ignoring invitations for meetings, project briefings, calls, and messages.

The government also noted that although Ogundele had presented a bond from Jaiz Bank for the contract, he received the funds through a Zenith Bank account linked to his company, making it impossible to hold Jaiz Bank accountable. This, it said, demonstrated his clear intention to defraud from the outset.

Following the collapse of talks, the government petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A joint inspection by EFCC and state officials in May 2025 revealed that little to no real work had been done on the sites, with some projects showing no proper excavation.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has declared Ogundele wanted for alleged fraud and money laundering. In a viral video, Ogundele dismissed the accusations and promised to present himself to the anti-graft agency.

The state government, however, maintains that he abandoned the project and misused public funds. It has since reassigned the school projects to new contractors and pledged to recover “every penny fraudulently taken from Ndi Enugu.

VDM is OUT!

https://thesun.com.ng/news/breaking--vdm-is-finally-out