NEWS
Monarch Crisis: Ogun Court Strips Macgregor Of Olu of Orile Ilawo Title
The Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, has invalidated the installation of Alexander Macgregor as the Olu of Orile Ilawo, declaring the process that led to his emergence as illegal.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi ordered Macgregor to stop parading himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo, pending the resolution of a legal suit challenging his nomination and installation.
The case was filed by the Ogunsanya-Ariku Royal Family, who alleged that the process was fraught with irregularities, including the substitution of warrant chiefs approved by the Ilawo Traditional Council with unrecognized individuals.
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Justice Majekodunmi strongly criticized the Ogun State Government for proceeding with the installation despite the pending court case, describing the move as “an act of impunity and disregard for the judiciary.”
“It is an impunity and disregard to this court for the defendant to go ahead with the installation of the 7th defendant (Macgregor) despite a pending court case,” Justice Majekodunmi said.
“Immediately a case is ongoing, people are under a legal duty not to go ahead with anything pending the determination of the suit. Doing such is tantamount to undermining the integrity of the court.”
The court issued an order mandating the withdrawal of all instruments of office, including the staff of office and other symbols of authority granted to Macgregor, effectively restoring the stool of Olu of Orile Ilawo to its prior status before the disputed nomination process.
The Ogunsanya-Ariku Royal Family had sought to halt the installation following the death of the former monarch on December 24, 2021.
The family argued that the nomination process violated traditional protocols and was manipulated to favor Macgregor.
Reacting to the court’s decision, the Secretary of the Aiku and Ogunsanya dynasties, Dr. David Ogunsanya, lauded the ruling as a triumph for justice and fairness.
“We commend the judiciary for upholding justice,” Dr. Ogunsanya said. “Today, we are elated to brief the distinguished members of the press that the installation of Mr. Olusegun Macgregor has been nullified and discarded by a competent court of law with an instruction that he should henceforth desist from parading himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo.”
He warned that any defiance of the court’s ruling would be considered contempt of court and urged members of the public to adhere to the court’s decision.
“Going forward, any action contrary to this court ruling would, by our understanding of its dictates, amount to contempt of court, which, of course, shall be reported to the appropriate quarters,” Dr. Ogunsanya said.
He further cautioned members of the public, stating, “Anyone who continues to patronize Mr. Olusegun Macgregor and his cohorts as Olu of Orile Ilawo is doing so at their own peril.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will not approve admissions for the Law programme at several Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.
This follows a suspension order from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) regarding the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme at the affected institutions.
In a statement released on Wednesday, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that no admissions would be granted to candidates seeking to enroll in Law programmes at the universities listed below.
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The suspension is part of ongoing measures to regulate and standardize legal education in the country.
Benjamin stated, “JAMB will not approve any admissions for candidates seeking to enroll in the Law programme at the affected universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.”
The institutions impacted by the suspension include:
Kwara State University, Malete, Ilorin, Kwara State
- Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State
- Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State
- Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State
- Taraba State University, Jalingo, Taraba State
- Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State
- Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State
Furthermore, the Nigerian Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State, will see its Law programme suspended for an extended period.
Benjamin further elaborated, “Please note that the suspension of the Law programme at the Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, will last for two academic sessions: specifically, the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions.”
JAMB has urged prospective students to take note of these changes when making their application decisions for the upcoming academic year.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans for a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in response to a recent telecommunications tariff hike.
The protest comes after the Federal Government approved a 50% increase, following telecom operators’ initial request for a 100% hike.
The announcement was made following an emergency National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting on Wednesday, where NLC President Joe Ajaero strongly criticized the hike.
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He called it “insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship.”
In a statement, Ajaero condemned the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) decision to approve the increase, calling it a harsh blow to citizens already grappling with the effects of rising costs across multiple sectors.
He emphasized that the 50% tariff hike was too much for the Nigerian people, particularly those earning the minimum wage of N70,000 per month.
Ajaero explained that the protest rally on February 4 would serve as a warning to the government, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians who have already faced high petrol prices, soaring food costs, electricity tariff hikes, and rising inflation.
“All NLC affiliates and state councils are directed to begin full mobilisation in preparation for the nationwide protest rally,” Ajaero said. He urged civil society groups to join the movement, calling on workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against the tariff hike.
The NLC also issued a demand for the immediate suspension of the tariff hike and called for meaningful dialogue with the Federal Government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Assembly.
Ajaero warned that if the hike is not reversed, the NLC would consider escalating its actions, including a possible nationwide boycott of telecommunication services.
“The NLC remains committed to safeguarding the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens,” Ajaero asserted. “We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people.”
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Max Air’s domestic flight operations for three months following a landing incident at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The decision, announced in a statement by NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu on Wednesday, comes after a Max Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft (registration 5N-MBD) suffered a wheel collapse and tire burst while landing at the airport on Tuesday night at approximately 10:51 p.m, causing panic among passengers.
However, all 53 passengers and six crew members onboard escaped without major injuries.
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Following the incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that the runway has been cleared and flight operations at the airport have resumed. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into the occurrence, with the NCAA pledging full support.
“The NCAA will provide the required support to the NSIB in this regard. It must be stated that the specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation,” the regulatory body stated.
The NCAA further revealed that it had already been conducting an organisational risk profile assessment for all scheduled airlines, including Max Air. However, as a result of this incident, the airline will suspend its domestic operations for three months, effective from midnight on January 31, 2025, to allow its management to conduct an internal appraisal.
During this suspension period, the NCAA will carry out a comprehensive safety and economic audit of Max Air.
“The safety audit will entail a re-inspection of Max Air’s organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3(b) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will critically examine the financial health of the airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations,” the NCAA stated.
The regulatory authority emphasized that the airline will only be allowed to resume domestic operations once it satisfactorily completes the audit.
“The NCAA is aware of the inconvenience this action may cause intending passengers of Max Air. However, the safety and well-being of passengers is paramount,” the statement concluded.
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