Four suspects allegedly linked to the murder of the late Chairman of Irewole Local Government Area in Osun State, Remi Abass, were arraigned on Wednesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants — Abubakar Kabiru (also known as Jeje, 38), Tajudeen Opeyemi (30), Akeem Agbomojo (28), and Akintoye Olayemi (40) — all from Ikire and Apomu in Osun State, were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

They were charged with terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and the murder of Abass, who was killed on February 17, 2024, in Ikire, Osun State.

Appearing for the prosecution, A. S. Oyeyemi, represented the Inspector General of Police, while Sunday Adebayo appeared for the defendants.

Muhydeen Adeoye held a watching brief for the nominal complainants.

The amended charge, numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/170/2025, contained three counts.

In Count One, the defendants were accused of conspiring, aiding, and instigating acts of terrorism in various towns and villages across Osun State, contrary to and punishable under Section 26(1)(2)(a)(b)(c) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Two alleged that the defendants conspired to illegally possess firearms and were arrested with three pump-action rifles, contrary to Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Count Three charged the defendants with the murder of Hon. Remi Abass, an offence contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that they be remanded at the Kuje Custodial Centre and adjourned the case to December 4, 2025, for hearing, in line with the agreement of counsel on both sides.

The killing of Abass is linked to the long-standing political tension between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State over control of local government councils.

In 2022, the then APC-led administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola conducted local government elections shortly before leaving office — polls which the PDP, then in opposition, boycotted and later challenged in court, describing them as unconstitutional.

After the PDP’s Senator Ademola Adeleke became governor, his administration dissolved the councils and appointed caretaker committees. However, in February 2025, the Court of Appeal declared that the election of the APC council chairmen and councillors was valid and ordered their reinstatement.

Following that judgment, tensions flared across several local government areas as the reinstated APC officials attempted to resume duties.

In the Irewole Local Government Area, clashes reportedly broke out between rival political supporters, leading to the death of Abass and several others.

The police subsequently launched an investigation into the violence, which resulted in the arrest and arraignment of the four defendants.

An earlier charge involving seven suspects, led by one Jide Jooda, was withdrawn by the prosecution after one of the accused died while awaiting trial.

The matter has now been adjourned to December 4, 2025.

The Lagos State Government has faulted the National Assembly over the proposed Central Gaming Bill, warning that its passage would violate the Nigerian Constitution and a subsisting Supreme Court judgment.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), declared the move by the National Assembly as “a voyage of unconstitutionality.”

According to a report by the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, the Central Gaming Bill, 2025  was presented for concurrence during Senate plenary on October 7, 2025.

The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for online and remote gaming, aiming to replace the previously repealed National Lottery Act of 2005.

The proposed legislation seeks to regulate the operation and business of online gaming across all states in Nigeria, including a specific provision for activities in the Federal Capital Territory.

The OBS reported in November 2024 that the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005, enacted by the National Assembly.

A seven-member panel of the court, in a unanimous judgment, held that the National Lottery Act 2005 should no longer be enforced in all states, except the FCT, in respect of which the National Assembly was empowered to make laws.

Speaking on Wednesday, Pedro said, “As the Chief Law Officer of Lagos State, it is both my constitutional duty and responsibility to draw the nation’s attention to the voyage of unconstitutionality embarked upon by the National Assembly to enact Act to regulate the operation and business of all forms of online and remote gaming across the geographical boundaries of the federating units and beyond the borders of Nigeria.”

He said the legislature cannot directly overturn a specific Supreme Court judgment, “though it is conceded it can indirectly nullify its effect, but only by changing the underlying law on which the judgment was based to remove the foundation of the judgment.”

“In this case, the underlying law is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having not amended the Constitution of Nigeria to include in the exclusive legislative list item such as lottery, gambling and gaming, the Central Gaming Bill, as currently constituted, directly conflicts and contradicts the provisions of the extant Constitution of Nigeria and a subsisting and binding judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the subject.”

“Consequently, as of today, the National Assembly can only legislate on lottery, game and gambling for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he added.

Pedro warned that if the National Assembly proceeded with the Bill, “the consequences will be grave.”

“It would amount to legislating in defiance of a binding Supreme Court decision, which is the highest expression of contempt of court.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has lamented the abandonment of key projects he initiated as Governor of Bayelsa State, blaming successive administrations for failing to sustain his development agenda.

Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Jonathan said he had begun several hotel projects, to attract tourism and investment to the state before he became Vice President in 2007.

He noted that those projects were left unattended after he left office, describing the trend as a major source of waste in governance.

“When a governor leaves office, the next governor doesn’t want to follow up, and most of the money spent goes to waste,” Jonathan said.

The former president recalled that his administration had invested in the hospitality sector to make Yenagoa more appealing to visitors, especially during the Africa Movie Academy Awards, which Bayelsa hosted at the time.

“During the first AMAA event, most of the international guests stayed in Port Harcourt because Bayelsa had no suitable hotels,” he said. “So we supported local hoteliers with loans of N10m to N15m to upgrade their facilities, but after I left office, nobody refunded the money, and the initiative died.”

He added that his government had also awarded contracts for the construction of three major hotels,  including the Tower Hotel and two three-star facilities, which were never completed.

“If they had done these three hotels, by now visitors coming to Bayelsa State would have had comfortable places to stay, but somehow when I left, even people I mobilised, we didn’t see what they have done.

“That is the problem of government, when a governor leaves, the next governor doesn’t want to follow up, most of those money spent will go.”

Jonathan commended the management of Best Western Plus for bringing a world-class hospitality brand to the state, saying it fulfilled the vision he had for Bayelsa’s tourism industry.

In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri praised the hotel’s founder, Dr. Harcourt Adukeh, for his investment and commitment to the state’s economic growth.

Diri described the project as a landmark development that would boost the hospitality sector, create jobs, and encourage more private investment.

He urged Bayelsans to emulate Adukeh by investing in their home state to drive sustainable development.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the hotel, Mrs. Initeme Aduke-Eromhonsele,  and Dr. Adukeh highlighted the facility’s blend of elegance, comfort, and modern design, noting its serene view of the Oxbow Lake.

The launch of the Best Western Plus Hotel, an affiliate of the global Best Western brand, marks a new phase in Yenagoa’s emergence as a destination for tourism, investment, and premium hospitality in the Niger Delta.