News
Oyo Speaker Swears-In First Female Clerk, Oyediran

Following the retirement of Barrister Paul Ishola Bankole as the Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo today sworn-in Ms. Felicia Foluke Oyediran as the new Clerk/Permanent Secretary.
Prior to her confirmation and swearing-in, Oyediran was a Deputy Clerk in the House.
She was once a classroom teacher at St. Anne’s School, Molete,Ibadan in 1998 before her appointment was transferred to the State House of Assembly in 1999 as a Clerk-at-Table at the advent of democracy.
In the build up to the confirmation and swearing-in, the House Majority Leader, Hon. Kehinde Subair and Minority Leader, Hon. Akeem Ige had moved a motion on the “Need to Fill the Vacancy of the Clerk of the Oyo State House of Assembly” to fill the vacuum created as a result of retirement of the former Clerk, Barrister Paul Ishola Bankole,mni.
The two Legislators referred the House to Section 93 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Order VII, Rule 10 (1-2) of the Standing Rules of the Oyo State House of Assembly, which established importance of the Office of the Clerk as regard day-to-day running of the House.
They also reminded the House of the passage of Oyo State House of Assembly Commission Bill into law and assented to by the Governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, which enables the Clerk of the House to emerge among Deputy Clerks subject to the confirmation by 2/3 majority of the House of Assembly members.
The Speaker, Olagunju Ojo, while performing the swearing-in ceremony, charged Ms. Oyediran to use the opportunity to improve on the quality of legislative service delivery, as well as contributing more to the success recorded so far by the House in terms of law making, oversight functions and other legislative duties.
He reiterated that the step has raised hope of other members of staff of the House of Assembly to attain the position of Clerk/Permanent Secretary in their career as civil servants.
The newly sworn-in Clerk, Felicia Foluke Oyediran promised to use the position to improve on the working environment, improve welfare of the members of staff, ensuring harmony among Honourable members and speedy delivery of legislative services.
Oyediran, who is the first Female Clerk to be appointed in the history of Oyo State House of Assembly hailed from Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
She is a graduate of the premier University of Ibadan with her first degree in Geography and Masters Degree in Managerial Psychology from the same institution.
She has served in various Ministries including Governor’s Office and Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Investment and Cooperative.
News
Alleged KGB Infiltration: Police in Dilemma as Senator Natasha Abandons Petition, Snubs Summons

The Nigeria Police Force appears to be in a quandary over its investigation into the alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency.
Checks revealed that the police had invited the Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, for interrogation following a petition filed by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
In the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, urged the police to investigate Karimi’s claim that the KGB had infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
She specifically alleged that Senator Karimi had circulated a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.
Describing the claim as a matter of national security, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the alarm raised by Karimi should not be taken lightly. “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body,” she emphasized in her petition.
Karimi Appears Before Police, Natasha Recoils
Further investigations revealed that Senator Karimi honored the police invitation on Monday, appearing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to clarify his position.
Sources within the police described his session as “positive and insightful,” revealing that he admitted to sharing the report in question. However, the police were reportedly taken aback when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan distanced herself from the petition and ignored requests to appear for questioning.
“We reached out to her after our session with Senator Karimi, expecting her to provide further clarification, but she has continuously ignored our invitation,” a senior police source disclosed.
“What is disturbing is how she suddenly abandoned such a serious petition against her colleague. First, she claimed to be outside the country, but a viral video has since surfaced showing her in her constituency. It is difficult to reconcile her claims with the information available to us,” the source added.
The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further hinted at possible political undertones behind the petition.
“We do not want to meddle in the ongoing power play within the Senate. However, it would be scandalous if she attempted to use the police as a tool in her political battles.”
When asked about the possible next steps, the source stated that his superiors would determine the fate of the petition, which he described as “frivolous.”
News
Twelve Inmates Escape in Kotonkarfe Jailbreak

Twelve inmates have escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, following an early morning jailbreak on Monday.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described it as “unfortunate” and assured the public that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking measures to prevent a recurrence.
According to Fanwo, law enforcement officers have already re-arrested one of the escapees.
“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns. This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” he stated.
The commissioner further disclosed that Governor Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to ensure that such breaches do not happen again.
“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” Fanwo warned.
Reassuring residents, he added: “There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”
Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the escapees or ongoing efforts to apprehend them.
News
Trump Ends Legal Status for Over 500,000 Immigrants, Orders Mass Expulsions

The United States has announced the termination of legal status for over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks, as President Donald Trump pushes forward with what he calls the largest deportation campaign in American history.
The sweeping directive, issued on Friday, affects approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived under a programme launched by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in October 2022 and later expanded in January 2023.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected immigrants will lose their legal protections 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. This means they must leave the United States by 24 April, unless they secure another immigration status permitting them to stay.
Welcome.US, an organisation that supports asylum seekers, has urged those impacted to “immediately” seek legal counsel regarding their options.
A Reversal of Biden’s Immigration Policy
The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) programme, introduced in January 2023, allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from these nations to enter the United States for two years. The initiative was designed to offer a “safe and humane” alternative to the dangerous crossings at the US-Mexico border, which had seen a surge in arrivals.
However, the DHS reiterated on Friday that the programme was never meant to provide permanent residency.
“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” the agency stated.
Mass Deportations Under Trump
Trump, who has made immigration control a cornerstone of his presidency, has vowed to crack down on migrants—particularly those from Latin America.
Last week, he invoked rare wartime legislation to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, a country that has controversially offered to imprison both migrants and U.S. citizens at a discounted rate.
The latest order signals Trump’s intent to follow through on his hardline immigration policies, raising concerns among human rights advocates about the humanitarian impact of such mass deportations.
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