Politics
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It is no more news that Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa over multiple allegations of fraud.
The Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, was also suspended indefinitely, while the Chief Whip, Mr Mojeed Fatai, was elected the new Deputy Speaker.
Multiple sources confirmed that the lawmakers removed Obasa during a plenary session on Monday.
Details surrounding the speaker’s removal remain unclear as of press time. However, the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, has been sworn in as the new Speaker.
Obasa’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, has not responded to calls or text messages regarding the development at the time of filing this report.
Speaking on the impeachment, a lawmaker, Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency 1 stated, “It is only death that is constant, so change is inevitable. Members of the parliament today have decided to change the leadership of the House. The Constitution makes it clear that the House has the power to regulate its proceedings.
“The members of the House felt we had had enough of the leadership of Mudashiru Obasa. We unanimously agreed that Hon. Mojisola Meranda would become the new Speaker and Hon. Fatai Adebola would be the Deputy Speaker. It was a resolution concurred by all members of the parliament. As we speak, all principal positions and standing committees of the House have been dissolved.
Tobun did not specify the precise reasons for Obasa’s impeachment.
Obasa recently dismissed allegations that the Assembly had spent ₦17 billion on constructing a gate as “spurious and laughable.”
A group called the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition had accused the Assembly of spending the amount on the gate and called for an investigation.
At the plenary, the former Speaker denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
“It is funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in a whole year for anyone to claim we spent ₦17 billion on a gate? They even alleged that we spent ₦200 million on the recently organised 22nd Thanksgiving service, which is untrue.
“We are aware that as elections in 2027 approach, such baseless claims will arise. It seems some people are scared, and I don’t know why. This House has not embarked on any such project. We are not reckless. Our Thanksgiving was held last Friday, attended by dignitaries from across the state,” he said.
Obasa, a sixth-term lawmaker representing Agege Constituency I under the All Progressives Congress, has held the speakership for years.
He has previously faced controversies and allegations of financial mismanagement within the Assembly.
South Korean investigators have arrested South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol over accusations of insurrection for briefly imposing martial law in a move swiftly overturned by the country’s National Assembly.
“The Joint Investigation Headquarters executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol today [January 15] at 10:33 am [01:30 GMT],” the authorities said in a statement on Wednesday, making Yoon the first South Korean president to be arrested while still in office.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that the deputy chief of Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), Lee Jae-seung, led questioning of Yoon inside an interrogation room, with Yoon’s legal representatives present. The CIO said Yoon would be held at Seoul Detention Centre in Uiwang, following questioning, the Reuters news agency reported.
In a prerecorded video message released after his arrest, Yoon said he had made the decision to submit to questioning over his failed martial law bid to avert “bloodshed”.
“I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office,” Yoon said, adding that he did not accept the legality of the investigation but was complying “to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed”.
South Korean investigators and police used ladders to climb into Yoon’s residential compound earlier in the day after they were initially blocked by the Presidential Security Service, which barricaded the entrance using vehicles, according to reports.
Thousands of people, including supporters, had gathered outside Yoon’s home, while a group of lawmakers from the governing conservative People Power Party and Yoon’s lawyers had also attempted to prevent the arrest inside the presidential compound, the reports said.
Authorities now have 48 hours to question Yoon, after which they must seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days or release him.
Investigators began questioning the suspended president shortly after his arrest, but they said he had exercised “his right to remain silent”. He also withheld permission for the interview to be filmed.
The CIO, which has a questionnaire of over 200 pages prepared for Yoon, told reporters it had no information on why he was refusing to talk.
The standoff at Yoon’s presidential residence came just hours after he failed to appear for the first hearing in his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3.
Patrick Fok, reporting for Al Jazeera from Seoul, said an estimated 1,000 police officers were involved in the arrest operation at the president’s residence.
“The corruption investigation office can hold him for a maximum of 48 hours. They then need to decide, at that point, whether or not to apply for a warrant to detain the president,” Fok said.
“It is not clear whether or not that will be necessary, but of course, it has been very difficult to get to this point,” he said.
Yoon was not present at the opening of his impeachment trial on Tuesday and South Korea’s Constitutional Court had said that they needed him to be present, Fok said.
“Now that he has been arrested, perhaps he will show up in court tomorrow,” he added.
The operation on Wednesday was the second attempt by investigators to arrest Yoon. An earlier failed attempt ended after an hours-long standoff between authorities and Yoon’s security team inside the presidential compound at the beginning of January.
Since then, Yoon had remained inside his hillside villa in Seoul for weeks in an effort to evade arrest. He also failed to show up for his impeachment trial on Tuesday morning, leading to the hearings being adjourned minutes after they had begun.
The impeached president’s lawyers had said their client would not attend the impeachment hearing as he would be prevented from expressing his position freely due to ongoing attempts to detain him by authorities.
The hearing is being held after South Korea’s National Assembly voted on December 14 to impeach Yoon over his imposition of martial law in a surprise late-night address on December 3, 2024.
After first rising to public prominence as chief prosecutor of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye on charges of corruption in 2017, Yoon took office in May 2022.
With his popularity plummeting, Yoon shocked the nation when he declared martial law saying it was needed to safeguard South Korea “from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements”.
He deployed troops to parliament but lawmakers defied him and voted against the move. Yoon was forced to revoke his declaration after just six hours but the move has ushered in an unprecedented period of political turmoil in South Korea.Source: Al Jazeera
Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has promised to restore electricity to the Uli campus of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University after 21 years of blackout.
Governor Soludo also assured the institution of access to the internet and WiFi in public places within the campus and expressed optimism that this will further deepen the school's access to the digital world.
Soludo made this assertion, which shows his commitment to quality education, during his one-day working visit to the campus in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
In a release by Soludo's Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the governor stated, "We have to work out a plan to connect power back to Uli and the campus. Uli campus is not forgotten. Our party mantra and governing ideology is to leave no one behind, and education is Anambra's future and foundation.
"That is why we are investing in human capital that is productive at home and exportable abroad. We must deliberately invest in qualitative education. We are paying serious attention to quality. We also have the PPCP framework to do this," the Governor stated.
He further affirmed, "Digitalisation will give this campus an advantage, and we will also begin the gradual construction of the internal roads in the campus".
Eulogising Soludo, the State's Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, assured him of their unalloyed prayer and support, whom she described as education-friendly.
For his part, the Institution's Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, commended Governor Soludo for the visit, his commitment to the school's infrastructural development, and his past support, including the university's accreditation.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday reserved ruling in the bail application of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello till December 10.
The court ordered the remand of the former governor and his two co-defendants in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello is standing trial over an alleged N110 billion fraud, which the anti-graft agency, described in its charge as a breach of trust.
Justice Maryanne Anenih, who issued the order, said Bello and others should remain in the EFCC custody until there is a ruling on the bail applications.
Bello was arraigned along with Director-General, Kogi State Government House, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which the judge took arguments from lawyers to parties on the defendants’ bail applications.
Arguing the bail application, defendants’ lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), said his clients were presumed innocent by the law until proven guilty, adding that it is within their rights to enjoy their liberty while preparing for trial.
Daudu, who earlier objected to the prosecution’s request for immediate commencement of trial, said the charge was served on his clients by 11pm on Tuesday.
He urged the court to discountenance the prosecution’s claim that Bello has another charge pending against him before a Federal High Court in Abuja and that he had refused to attend court.
Daudu said: “The court should not use issues from another court to determine the issue before this court (FCT High Court).”
The defence lawyer said Bello’s appearance in court showed his obedience to the court’s public summons issued on October 3.
He added: “What is important here is that he was summoned and he is in court today (yesterday).”
Daudu prayed the court to grant his clients bail, adding that once the prosecution filed charge and proof of evidence before the court, it presupposes that it has concluded its investigation and as such, there was no way the former governor can impede investigation.
Objecting to the defendants’ bail request, lawyer to the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), said the prosecution was against bail for Bello on three grounds.
The first ground, he said, bordered on the competence of the bail application; the second was the question about the factual content of the application, and the third was the application of judicial principles and guidance.
Pinheiro said the court assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants, adding that it was only after their arraignment that the court could assume jurisdiction over the case.
He said Bello’s bail application, which was dated and filed November 22, was filed when the defendants were yet to be arraigned, adding that the former governor was only taken into custody on Tuesday.
Pinheiro argued that as at when Bello’s application was filed, he was not in custody and there was no arraignment, pointing out that it was only after arraignment that the application for bail could be taken into account.
He noted that the court issued public summons, which was published on October 21 indicating that the former governor was aware of the case, but failed to attend court twice on October 24 and November 14 before he was produced by the prosecution yesterday.
On Daudu’s claim that Bello had exhibited good behaviour, Pinheiro said what was rather demonstrated by the plaintiff were scorn and contempt for the court by staying away twice.
He argued that Bello is a person of political clout and eminence, who may harass prosecution witnesses, some of whom are Kogi State Government officials.
Pinheiro therefore, urged the court not to grant the former governor bail.
Bello and his co-defendants were brought to the court by EFCC operatives, some of whom were heavily armed, at about 8:53am.
Before the proceedings, the courtroom was filled to the brim by Bello’s sympathisers, who took turns to pay homage to him where he sat.
When the judge began sitting, shortly after 9am, she expressed displeasure about the number of people in the courtroom and directed that those standing because of space constraints should leave.
The court audience, who were mostly Bello’s sympathisers, ignored the judge’s directive, prompting her to rise.
At that point, Bello prevailed on his supporters to heed the judge’s directive, an intervention which they promptly complied with.
The judge returned some minutes later to begin proceedings.
As we enter 2025, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. May you be rich in joy, success, and good health.
As the new year dawns, it brings many hopes, aspirations, and prospects for better days. By the grace of God, 2025 will be a year of great promise in which we will fulfill our collective desires.
Though 2024 posed numerous challenges to our citizens and households, I am confident that the New Year will bring brighter days.
Economic indicators point to a positive and encouraging outlook for our nation. Fuel prices have gradually decreased, and we recorded foreign trade surpluses in three consecutive quarters. Foreign reserves have risen, and the Naira has strengthened against the US dollar, bringing greater stability.
The stock market’s record growth has generated trillions of naira in wealth, and the surge in foreign investment reflects renewed confidence in our economy. Nevertheless, the cost of food and essential drugs remained a significant concern for many Nigerian households in 2024.
In 2025, our government is committed to intensifying efforts to lower these costs by boosting food production and promoting local manufacturing of essential drugs and other medical supplies. We are resolute in our ambition to reduce inflation from its current high of 34.6% to 15%. With diligent work and God’s help, we will achieve this goal and provide relief to all our people.
In this new year, my administration will further consolidate and increase access to credit for individuals and critical sectors of the economy to boost national economic output.
To achieve this, the federal government will establish the National Credit Guarantee Company to expand risk-sharing instruments for financial institutions and enterprises.
The Company—expected to start operations before the end of the second quarter—is a partnership of government institutions, such as the Bank of Industry, Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency, and Ministry of Finance Incorporated, the private sector, and multilateral institutions.
This initiative will strengthen the confidence of the financial system, expand credit access, and support under-served groups such as women and youth. It will drive growth, re-industrialisation, and better living standards for our people.
On a personal note, thank you for placing your confidence in me as your president. Your trust humbles me, and I promise to continue serving you diligently and wholeheartedly.
We will continue to embark on necessary reforms to foster sustainable growth and prosperity for our nation.
I seek your cooperation and collaboration at all times as we pursue our goal of a one trillion-dollar economy. Let us stay focused and united.
We are on the right path to building a great Nigeria that will work for everyone. Let us not get distracted by a tiny segment of our population that still sees things through the prisms of politics, ethnicity, region, and religion.
To achieve our national goals and objectives, we must become better citizens and uncompromising in our devotion and allegiance to Nigeria.
Citizens’ moral rectitude and faith in our country are fundamental to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda. In 2025, we will commit to promoting adherence to ethical principles, shared values, and beliefs under the National Identity Project.
I will unveil the National Values Charter, already approved by the Federal Executive Council, in the first quarter of 2025. I will launch an ambitious national orientation campaign that fosters patriotism and love for our country and inspires citizens to rally together. The Charter will promote mutual commitments between the government and citizens and foster trust and cooperation among our diverse population and between the government and the citizens.
As far-reaching and foundational as our reforms are, they can produce the desired outcomes only through shared common values and identities and unconditional love for our country.
The Youth Confab will begin in the first quarter of 2025, a testament to our commitment to youth inclusiveness and investment as nation-builders. The Ministry of Youth will soon announce the modalities for selecting the conference’s representatives from our diverse, youthful population.
Dear Compatriots, I urge you to continue believing in yourselves and keeping faith in our blessed country.
Let me use this New Year’s message to urge our governors and local council chairpersons to work closely with the central government to seize emerging opportunities in agriculture, livestock, and tax reforms and move our nation forward. I commend governors who have embraced our Compressed Natural Gas initiative by launching CNG-propelled public transport. I also congratulate those who have adopted electric vehicles as part of our national energy mix and transition. The Federal Government will always offer necessary assistance to the states.
To all citizens, your sacrifices have not been in vain over the past 19 months. I assure you they will not be in vain even in the months ahead. Together, let us stay the course of nation-building.
The New Year will bring us closer to the bright future we all desire and the Nigeria of our dreams.
God bless you all, and may God bless our beloved country, Nigeria.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties.
Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, stated that bail is granted at the court’s discretion while delivering the ruling.
He said, “I have listened to the application from both counsels. First off, bail is at the discretion of the court, whether the bail is opposed or supported. Ordinarily, based on the antecedents of this case, particularly the conduct exhibited by the defendant, I would have reconsidered the application made by the learned senior counsel for the defendant. However, based on the detour exhibited by the learned senior counsel for the defendant, J.B. Daudu (SAN), which was reciprocated by the learned senior counsel for the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), I am inclined to depart from our earlier position on this matter.
“In view of the foregoing, I am prepared to grant the application made by both counsel. I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the following terms: One—bail is granted to the defendant in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties in the like sum. The two sureties shall own landed property within the jurisdiction of this court, Abuja.
“The two sureties shall swear to an affidavit of means, and the documents of the property shall be verified by the chief deputy registrar of this honourable court. The defendant shall deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of this honourable court. The defendant and the sureties shall each deposit two recent passport photographs with the deputy chief registrar of this honourable court. The defendant shall be released upon the perfection of the bail terms. The case is adjourned to February 24, 28, and March 6 and 7, 2025, for trial.”
Bello faces a 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), relating to money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totalling ₦80.2 billion.
Upon the resumed hearing, the EFCC counsel, Pinheiro, informed the court of the prosecution’s intention to withdraw a previous application for an abridgement of the arraignment date. He stated that the application had been overtaken by events. The defendant’s counsel, led by Daudu, did not object, and Justice Nwite accordingly granted the request, striking the application out.
Following this, the 19 counts were read to Bello, to which he pleaded not guilty.
After taking his plea, the defendant’s lawyer apologised for the earlier actions and requested bail pending the hearing and determination of the charges.
He assured the court that his client would attend all trial dates, stating that Bello, a two-term governor who had travelled abroad only twice, posed no flight risk.
He said, “My Lord, I apologise for any impression that may have been created that the defendant did not wish to appear before your lordship for his arraignment. What he did, which is not uncommon in law, was to direct his counsel to challenge the court’s jurisdiction, which took them to the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and back here.
“My Lord, it was not willful disrespect. He acted with the belief that he was defending himself as best as possible. He holds this court in high esteem, and we all do. This episode could have been avoided, but it has passed, and things are clearer now. We mean no harm to this court.
“Secondly, my Lord, and I say this with every sense of responsibility, having regard to the positions I have held in this profession, the governor, as a two-term governor of Kogi State, who travelled abroad only twice during his eight years, will appear on all trial days. I give my word that he will not jump bail.”
Pinheiro, on his part, told the court that he would not object to the bail request, despite having earlier filed a counter.
He stated, “I have great respect for my learned counsel, who was a past president of the NBA. I confirm we have been discussing how to ease the pressure on your lordship.
My Lord, we are prosecutors, not persecutors, and the EFCC is a prosecutorial commission, not a prosecutorial commission.
“We accept the assurances of the eminent counsel that the defendant will be available for trial, subject to your lordship’s terms.”
Recall that Bello is also facing a separate ₦110.4 billion charge before Justice MaryAnne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Justice Anenih had earlier ordered Bello’s remand in Kuje correctional facility pending the hearing and determination of his bail application after rejecting the application for procedural irregularities in its filing.
Meanwhile, Justice Nwite has also ordered Bello’s remand in Kuje prison pending the perfection of the bail terms granted.
Controversy has continued to trail a statement made by Wale Ajetunmobi, the suspended Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Ajetunmobi had claimed in a now-deleted post on Sunday that some arsonists who burnt down Television Continental during the #EndSARS protests in the state had been “hunted and executed.”
Following the comment, many Nigerians on social media interpreted the comment as an admission of state involvement in suspected extrajudicial killings during the 2020 protests against police brutality and the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The protests were followed by intense debates over the true number of casualties, with the Lagos State Government consistently maintaining that no extrajudicial killings took place.
In the tweet, Ajetunmobi claimed that one of the allegedly “executed” individuals was a young boy, whose name was not disclosed, and who worked as a cooking gas trader in the Ketu area of Lagos.
The deleted tweet read, “The full story of people who burnt down TVC in 2020 will be told one day, with gory clips and images. One thing to note: the majority of them have been hunted down and executed.
“One of them, a young boy trading in cooking gas around Ketu, was found with an AK-47 at the site. Even his neighbours were shocked. But the full gist is better saved for later.”
Ajetunmobi later refuted claims of extrajudicial killings, stating that the use of the term “execution” in his comment was an unintended “error.”
The tweet read, “This excerpt was quoted out of context, and there were a series of comments made under the same post that better explained what was intended. As I further explained in the said tweet, no extra-judicial killing was insinuated. The word ‘executed’ was erroneously used and not intended in the context of that casual conversation.
“What was written in the entire conversation reflected personal opinion and not the position of any authority or the entity in which I work. The post and other comments had been taken down, even before this publication.”
However, Ajetunmobi’s clarification appeared insufficient to appease his principal, the state governor.
A statement issued by Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, announced Ajetunmobi’s suspension.
According to the statement, Ajetunmobi’s suspension “comes on the heels of the misrepresentation of facts on his personal X account on a past incident.”
Akosile noted that the Sanwo-Olu administration “frowns at any form of extrajudicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action. That is not who we are. That is not our way.”
However, while many Nigerians on X.com praised the governor for suspending the aide, others called for a deeper investigation into the revelations made in the comment.
Leading the call for a probe was a human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Inibehe Effiong, who urged security agencies to summon Ajetunmobi for questioning.
He partly wrote, “Suspending Wale Ajetunmobi as your aide does not address the alarming confession of extrajudicial killings made by him.”
This matter has to be investigated thoroughly by law enforcement agencies.
“He should be taken into custody immediately.”
Echoing similar sentiments, @UnckleAyo wrote, “That isn’t misrepresentation. He admitted to being in the know of extrajudicial killings. In a sane system, his head and his principal’s should roll, but given the antecedent of his principal, who is surprised?”
@Waxodigitals said, “The claim made by Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, suggesting that arsonists were “hunted and executed,” is deeply troubling and underscores the need for accountability and transparency in governance.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s decision to suspend Ajetunmobi over a “misrepresentation of facts” is a step in the right direction, but it raises critical questions.
“Was the statement made by Ajetunmobi factual or completely fabricated? If true, it points to potential extrajudicial killings that warrant immediate investigation.
“What steps will the Lagos State Government take to restore public trust and address lingering concerns about its handling of the #EndSARS fallout? I call on relevant authorities, including @PoliceNG, @NhrcNigeria, and civil society organisations to thoroughly investigate these claims.”
@DailyJusticeAct stated, “Who knows, what else does that guy know? His confession is a huge disclosure. There is a need for a thorough investigation. A lot of innocent souls must have been lost via these internal government bandits.”
“For an aide to have said what he said, it is either that he knows what he is saying (privy to what has happened behind the scenes as a close person or aide to a senior government official) or he is spreading falsehood. Either way, he should be invited for questioning,” @Jidekuye added.Wale Ajetunmobi,may now be in deeper trouble,than he could imagine.hu
Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, has regained freedom after meeting bail conditions.
Bello has been charged with alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110,446,470,089, contrary to sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under section 312 of same law.
They are to submit two passport photographs each and other means of identification like National Identification Number (NIN).
In a now-viral video, Bello and Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, are seen jubilating.
CASE ADJOURNED TO JANUARY
Bello and his co-defendants — Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu — were arraigned on November 27 before the FCT court on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N110 billion.
On December 10, Anenih adjourned the case to January 29 and 30; and February 25 and 27, after declining Bello’s bail request on the grounds that the application was filed prematurely.
When the case was called for hearing on Thursday, Joseph Daudu, Bello’s counsel, informed the court that the defence counsels had filed a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by the prosecution counsels.
However, he applied to withdraw the further affidavit.“We do not want to make the matter contentious,” Daudu said.
There was no objection from Olukayode Enitan, the prosecution counsel. The court, therefore, granted the application for withdrawal, striking out the further affidavit.
The counsel implored the court to broaden the scope of properties to be used as bail bond to include locations across the FCT, rather than limiting the location to Maitama.
The prosecution did not object. Consequently, the judge granted bail to the first defendant.
She also varied the bail condition of the 2nd and 3rd defendants to allow their sureties own properties in any location within the FCT.
Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has confirmed to be behind the recent arrest of lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi ,who he claimed defamed him in a book published recently.
The accusation stems from a Supreme Court judgment involving a land dispute that spanned over two decades.
In a petition dated November 19 and addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola detailed how his law firm discovered Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System and the defamatory contents therein.
“I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors,” the petition read.
He claimed the book contained several defamatory statements that questioned his integrity and accused his law firm of unethical practices, including corrupting the judiciary.
He added, “Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers while travelling through Murtala Muhammed Airport bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers. He read the said book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the said book and read same.”
Babalola stated that the book accused him of “corrupting the Supreme Court from ages past and had led it to commit the most egregious acts of evil and wanting injustice.”
he petition noted, “The said defamatory statements are detailed below:
“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client” See page IX.
“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation”. See page X
“That Afe Babalola libeled me and the fact of the libel became known to me in a suit against Lawal Pedro SAN”. See page X.
“That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and he leveraged his influence in the Judiciary to deny me justice”. See page X.”
Giving a background of the case, the petition stated that the case concerned 254 hectares of land in Lagos, which the Supreme Court awarded to his client in 2013.
He further alleged that Farotimi’s comments in the book suggested that he and his law firm compromised the judiciary, tarnishing the integrity of the apex court.
According to the petition, Farotimi’s statements, which were also highlighted in media interviews and widely circulated online, were designed to damage his reputation, discredit his law firm, and cause clients to lose trust in his professional ethics.
“All these statements are false and incorrect written deliberately to destroy my reputation. Dele Farotimi referred to me severally in his book as the Doyen of the legal profession,” Babalola said.
According to the petition, the controversy originated from the Supreme Court judgment on July 13, 2013, which ruled in favour of Babalola’s client, the Gbadamosi Eletu family.
The case involved land acquired by the Lagos State Government but later contested by the Ojomu family, who sold the land to Babalola’s client decades earlier.
Babalola’s legal team successfully argued that the Ojomu family acted in bad faith by attempting to reclaim the land after its sale.
However, the judgment sparked litigation from estates affected by the ruling, including Pinnock Estate, NICON Estate, and others.
Babalola said that Farotimi, as counsel to one of these estates, criticised the judgment in his book and accused Babalola of unethical conduct.
On Wednesday, Farotimi was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti following his arrest on a 16-count charge of criminal defamation.
He was apprehended by officers of the Ekiti police command in Lagos and transported to Ekiti for arraignment.
Babalola has called for an urgent investigation into Farotimi’s claims, the recovery of all copies of the book, and a halt to its further distribution.
He also urged authorities to address what he described as Farotimi’s admitted “disregard for the rule of law.”
Babalola, who described himself as a pillar of the Nigerian legal profession, emphasised his six-decade-long career marked by integrity, discipline, and professionalism.
The Commissioner of Police,
Ado-Ekiti,
Ekiti State.
Dear Sir,
CRIMINAL DEFAMATION OF AARE AFE BABALOLA, AFE BABALOLA & CO AND HER LAWYERS BY DELE FAROTIMI
I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.
SUIT NO: SC/146/2005: MAJOR MURITALA GBADAMOSI ELETU & ORS V. H.R.H OBA TIJANI AKINLOYE & ORS (2013) 15 NWLR PART 1378
The Appellants lost the case at the High Court and the Court of Appeal before briefing my law firm to represent them at the Supreme Court.
The Appellant in this suit were Defendants at the High Court. The subject matter of the suit was 254 hectares of land at Osapa Eti-Osa Local Government Lagos sold to the late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu in 1977 by the Ojomu family. The said parcel of land was later acquired by Lagos State Government after it was sold to the Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Ojomu family.
The Ojomu family contested the acquisition against Lagos State Government in Suit No: ID/1883/89 wherein the court set aside the acquisition by the Lagos State Government. The Ojomu family then instituted the suit at the High Court of Lagos State claiming that title to the land had reverted to the Ojomu family despite the earlier sale of the land to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu.
We represented the Eletu family and Judgement was delivered by the Supreme Court on 13/7/2013 in favour of the Eletu family wherein the Supreme Court held that: “Where a party has fully divested himself of all interest in land, no right vests in him to deal with the same property by way of further alienation anymore. He is caught by the maxim, nemo dat quod non habet; that is, he cannot give that which he no longer has. In the instant case, it was unfortunate that the respondents claimed title to the whole of their family land compulsorily acquired by the Lagos State Government including the portion earlier sold to the father of the appellants and in which they were in effective possession. The claim so made without disclosing the truth and excluding the said portion so sold was clearly made in bad faith and smacked of insincerity. It was very unconscionable and consequently against the principles of equity and good conscience”.
The Supreme Court also held that: “A court of law should not allow itself to be used as an engine for the perpetration of fraud, in whatever guise”.
A copy of the judgment is hereby attached as annexure 1.
VARIATION OF JUDGEMENT
Honourable Justice Kumai Bayang AKA’ AHS JSC wrote the lead judgement. His Lordship erroneously limited the land of the Appellants to 10 hectares (24.17 acres) in respect to Suit no: M/779/93 whose subject matter was part of the 254 hectares owned by the Eletu family.
We immediately filed a motion for variation of the judgement of the Supreme Court pursuant to Order 8 Rule 16 of the Rules of Court. The said motion was heard and ruling delivered on 18/3/2014 granting statutory right of occupancy to the Appellants in respect to the entire 254 hectares sold to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Respondents.
A copy of the ruling is hereby attached as annexure 2.
ENFORCEMENT
Upon the delivery of the Judgement, our client surreptitiously employed the services of S.B Joseph & Co to enforce the judgement before we applied for variation of the judgement with the intention of not paying our professional fees.
The judgement was however varied on 18/3/2014 as earlier stated.
NEW SUIT BY ESTATES/PERSONS AFFECTED BY THE JUDGEMENT
Several residential estates were affected by the judgement of the Supreme Court among which were Pinnock Estate, Beach Resort, NICON Estate, Friends’ Colony Estate and Victory Park Estate etc. Dele Farotimi was lawyer to one of the Estates.
The affected estates and individuals immediately filed fresh suits against the Eletu family with the purpose of frustrating the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The Eletu family were lured by the affected estates to settle some of the suits behind our law firm despite being counsel on record by filing terms of settlement with the aim of denying us our professional fees. This was admitted by Dele Farotimi in page 73 of his book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’.
INTERVENTION BY LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
The Lagos State Government issued a publication indicating their awareness of the Supreme Court judgement and the need for the State to intervene in order to maintain public peace and order. The Lagos State Government invited us for several meetings with respect to compromising the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The said judgement was eventually compromised and the Eletu family were compensated by the Lagos State Government so as to avoid a massive dislocation of persons and communities directly affected by the Judgement.
DEFAMATION BY DELE FAROTIMI
Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers while travelling through Murtala Muhammed Airport bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers. He read the said book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the said book and read same.
We received several calls from professional colleagues, friends and family members who watched a program on Channel’s TV wherein Dele Farotimi was interviewed with respect to the said book where he made several defamatory statements against myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers), Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro Esq.
We also received several calls from persons who saw excerpts of the book and interview on several social media platforms.
The said defamatory statements are detailed below:
“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client” See page IX.
“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation”. See page X
“That Afe Babalola libeled me and the fact of the libel became known to me in a suit against Lawal Pedro SAN”. See page X.
“That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and he leveraged his influence in the Judiciary to deny me justice”. See page X.
“That I have always been familiar with the fact of our perversion as a People and I have few illusions about equity and justice reigning in Nigeria but I had always assumed that there were lines that should never be crossed. I have however been slapped awake by the brazenness of the judicial brigandage unleashed on hapless citizens, corporate, and individuals by the Nigerian Supreme Court, acting under the direction of Aare Afe Babalola. At least five Justices of the Apex Court have been identified as guilty of odious corruption and or gross incompetence. Either is sufficient to have them removed from their office and this is my petition to the Nigerian people and most definitely to the NJC”. See pages 10 to 11.
“The first we knew of the magic been put together by Afe and his elves must have been around the middle of July”. See page 49.
“While all this was going on, we had a meeting in the law office of Afe Babalola in Magodo, where Olu Daramola SAN made himself unavailable, and had us meet with Olu Faro, a younger counsel……..but Olu Faro Esq was remarkably insolent and assured that we were made aware of just how powerful the law office he worked for believed itself to be and how much above the law and the practice of law they believed themselves to be”. See page 52.
“The judgement of the court was unanimous in giving judgement to the Eletus………But Justice Rhodes-Vivour laid a foundation for the fraud that was to come. He spoke of an unextinguished equitable interest in 254 hectares”. See page 52 to 53.
“We quickly realized that the law office of Afe Babalola & Co, Emmanuel Chambers had outsourced the judgement execution to another law office, the firm of S.B Joseph & Co the firm had fraudulently and deliberately concealed the judgement of AKA’AHS and had underlined the words of Justice Rhodes Vivour to deceive and perhaps mislead Atilade or as is more likely, Atilade was always a part of the original fraud”. See page 56.
“But even as Atilade J. played the contrition game, she was already part of the game plan being staged together by the grandmaster of judicial corruption in Nigeria, Afe Babalola. I have come to the conclusion that the required form of the application and her ruling were all part of the insidious plans of Afe Babalola, his band of crooked lawyers and coterie of crooked/incompetent justices of the Supreme Court”. See page 59.
“The battle to quash the warrant opened my eyes to the extent of the rot in the court system and I came to the knowledge of the sickening realities of the systemic putrefaction. The Supreme Court’s Judgement was doctored by the confederation of lawyers in Afe Babalola’s chambers and the law offices of S.B Joseph & Co and the end desired by the confederacy was sought with the active connivance of the head judge of the Lagos Division, Atilade J.”. See page 60.
“As the mountain of evidence in proof of the Eletus’ fraud began to pile up and in view of the order that Atilade had granted quashing the fraudulent warrant that she had issued and as Afe came to realize how useless the original judgement had become, Afe went back to the accomplices at the Supreme Court and this is the only logical explanation for the shameless and brazen review of the fraudulent judgement by the second seating of the court where the justices destroyed whatever doubt one might have harbored of either corruption and/ or incompetence”. See page 64.
“It was around this time we began to hear rumors of a return to the Supreme Court by Afe Babalola and his magical elves and the rumors became real when I got a call from Tokunbo Williams SAN, who informed me of the receipt of a motion on notice before the Supreme Court, seeking to correct an error in the judgement reproduced below”. See page 64.
“But apparently, we had underestimated the extent of the putrefaction of the Supreme Court and the extent of Chief Afe Babalola’s corrupt reaches into the innards of the Supreme Court”. See page 64.
“The quashed warrant of execution became the basis of Afe Babalola latest excursion to the Supreme Court and the error of my acceptance of the Corrupt offer of an exparte application to quash the warrant for “Documentary Irregularity” became obvious to me. I knew before the motion was heard, that the court was working to the conclusion desired by Aare Afe Babalola”. See page 67.
“The Lagos crowd had been snookered into a corner by the exertions of my chambers and we had demolished the original fraud that was hatched before Afe secured the first of the two judgements………..The Supreme Court cannot hide behind the incompetence of counsel as it has a duty to examine its own appalling intellectual indolence, corruption or incompetence”. See page 70.
“But the court as though enthralled by whatever Afe the Circus Master had Promised the Justices, acted with utmost carelessness about the integrity of the court, the interest of the citizens and the State that they had been sworn to protect. The conspiracy was always a step ahead of us because some of the clients mistook key members of the confederacy of friends and helpers”. See pages 70 to 71.
“The Attorney General had been dragged into the matter. The brutal attempt at enforcement of the original judgement against organized estates and corporate establishments had served to galvanize extremely critical and sensitive mass of the affected peoples and this was when Afe Babalola lost his influence on the Eletus and the Lagos Mafia whose original brief to procure enforcement of the judgement became the dominant force in the conspiracy muscling out the Afe gang. With Afe Babalola rendered impotent, Lawal Pedro muscled in on the queue”. See page 71.
“…… she knows more about the case that culminated in the Supreme Court Judgement and she also knew everything that I had known about the Eletus fraud and Afe Babalola’s shenanigans”. See page 76.
“But Afe knew that he could get the Supreme Court to do whatever he wanted and to rule however he asked. Pedro knew this too and he being the original Lagos boy, showed Afe a bit of Lagos magic. Afe Babalola and the Eletus might have killed the buffalo but had no way from feeding from the carcass. We have turned the corrupt triumph at the Supreme Court into a pyrrhic victory and it was at this point that Pedro craftily inserted himself into the plot”. See page 80.
“If Afe Babalola might be likened to the lion, Lawal Pedro and the Lagos gang are the originally Africa wild hyenas. They literally chased Afe Babalola off his skill. They repackaged the conspiracy, cut the losses and went for the lower hanging fruits”. See page 80.
“This was enough until “eedi” (karma) caught up with Afe Babalola; he dragged Lawal Pedro before the Lagos High Court and the Eletus before ICPC”. See page 81.
“Sometimes in 2016, I started hearing rumblings of some serious fight between Chief Afe Babalola and Lawal Pedro. I was told that Chief Afe Babalola had written a petition to the LPDC, alleging that Lawal Pedro had railroaded his client Gbadamosi Eletu, into an agreement that circumvents his own legal agreement with the Eletus. About same time, I also heard that the ICPC had been pressed into action against the Eletus, Lawal Pedro and S.B Joseph, which seemed quite incongruous, given the fact that the Eletus were not public officers this event stirred an interest in me. I got my popcorn at the ready and waited to be entertained by the squabbling thieves”. See page 81.
“When Amina Augie JSC railed against Chief Afe Babalola’s professional conduct, or misconduct in the Bayelsa case, she did so either as an ostrich or out of ignorance. Afe has been corrupting the Supreme Court from ages past and had led it to commit the most egregious acts of evil and wanting injustice. Afe knows what her ladyship does not know or pretend not to know: that justice does not live in the Nigerian court or you can get the court to do whatever you want, as long as you know who to speak with and who to pay”. See page 83.
“Afe’s letter to Tunde Phillips, then C.J of Lagos State showed how frustrated he had become about the inability to execute the fraudulent judgement. In spite of the fact that he asked the Supreme Court to do what it had never done before……. the Eletus had formed a new confederacy and had neither room or use for Afe Babalola, who had overestimated his own importance to the plot and failed to discern that he had defectively become unnecessary to the new plotters”. See page 84
“Afe is so enmeshed in his corruption that he has lost all sense of propriety and or fairness”. See page 84.
“I have absolutely no interest in taking Afe Babalola’s corrupt money but I was not going to allow a corrupt, amoral man, devoid of any integrity, to define me for posterity when none of us will be around to dispute the hagiographic account of the event”. See page 84
“Afe Babalola was imperial by the suit I filed in court it was designed to blow open the tawdry details of his dirty deals with the Supreme Court…….it was a thing to be having a quarrel among thieves, each knew how far they might push their claim but it is quite another thing to get into “roforofo” fight with a man seemingly incapable of walking way from a fight”. See page 85
“The perils that were been faced by all key members of the twin camps of conspirators………I must close with a caveat; I am not privy to what happened in the conclaves of crooks….” See page 85
“But there was a second incentive. This was the promise to get rid of the nuisance that my libel suit against Afe represented. I knew when I knew when I was filing the suit, that Afe was not in a position to ever defend the suit. He has no defense and he never anticipated that I will ever become aware of his libel and if he did, he wasn’t concerned about what a mere mortal like me could do to a god like him. Afe was offered assurances that he need not worry about the case. The conspirators had it in hand and would extinguish the fire.” See page 88.
“I sued Afe Babalola because I was always going to blow his dirty, tawdry secrets. I did not know how long any of us had to live and I did not want to be dealing with the idiotic arguments that I could envision, of Afe’s proteges, arguing that I was slandering the dead if the book was to be published after his demise. He is already well in his 80s. I have offered him the opportunity to defend himself. He went to extra ordinary lengths to deny me my day in court”. See page 93.
The book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ is hereby attached as annexure 3.
All these statements are false and incorrect written deliberately to destroy my reputation. Dele Farotimi referred to me severally in his book as the Doyen of the legal profession.
The book has been circulated all over the country particularly in Ekiti State where so many persons who respect me as an elder state man has expressed their disdain as a result of the defamatory statement made by Dele Farotimi. The book has also been massively distributed online and has reached many persons globally who have expressed concern by Dele Farotimi’s intention to damage my hard-earned reputation. This is contrary to Section 374 of the Criminal Code.
These Statements are contrary to Section 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code which forbids any one from making defamatory statement which is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule or likely to damage any person in his profession or trade by an injury to his reputation.
The said statements are meant to lower myself, my law firm and my lawyer’s self-esteem in the eyes of members of the society and also to expose us to hatred, contempt or ridicule in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society. These statements were intended to cause right thinking persons in the society to shun and avoid me, my law firm and my lawyers.
The statements were made with the purpose of discrediting my law firm and ridicule us within the legal profession in order to injure our hard-earned reputation and financial credit.
The statements have caused many of our clients to stay away from us and seek the services of other law firms.
These defamatory statements have aroused the anger of right-thinking members of the society particularly members of the legal profession against me, my law firm and my lawyers.
These statements are likely to set the legal profession and the society at large ablaze in a way that can disturb public peace.
MY REPUTATION AND MY LAW FIRM
With every sense of modesty, I am one of the most distinguished legal luminaries of my generation, renowned both in Africa and globally for my profound contributions to the legal profession and the advancement of education. With over six decades of uninterrupted legal practice, my career is a testament to exceptional dedication, integrity, strategic advocacy, and visionary leadership.
I am a highly accomplished advocate, with some of the most celebrated cases in Nigerian legal history, representing high-profile clients, including government institutions, multinational corporations, and individuals. My advocacy spans domestic and international courts including contributions as a consultant to the Federal Government of Nigeria, World Bank, and various conglomerates. My extensive experience includes my role in arbitration, both locally and internationally, where I remain a respected authority. I appeared in numerous landmark cases, shaping Nigerian jurisprudence and establishing myself as one of the nation’s most formidable legal minds.
My influence goes beyond the courtroom. As the Founder of Afe Babalola & Co. (Emmanuel Chambers), one of Nigeria’s leading law firms, I have trained over 300 lawyers, including 14 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), judges, and attorneys-general, making my chambers one of the most significant contributors to the legal profession in Nigeria. My exceptional litigation skills and legal acumen earned me the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1987, cementing his place at the pinnacle of legal practice in the country. I currently have 7 senior advocates in chambers.
I am a renowned scholar and author. I have authored several authoritative legal texts, including Injunctions and Enforcement of Orders and Law and Practice of Evidence in Nigeria. My contributions to legal education extend to teaching at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and delivering lectures at prestigious universities such as the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan. My popular column, YOU AND THE LAW, published in the Nigerian Tribune, reflects my commitment to educating the public on legal matters.
Beyond my legal practice, I have made extraordinary strides in education. My experience as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (2001-2007) spurred me to establish Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). ABUAD has quickly become a beacon of academic excellence, integrity, setting new standards in Nigeria’s educational system. My efforts in education has been recognized globally, with numerous honorary degrees from universities including the University of London, University of Lagos and Ekiti State University.
My leadership in academia and law has earned me numerous accolades, including the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and international recognition such as the Queen Victoria Commemorative Award at the Socrates Awards in Oxford, UK. I was named Africa Man of the Year on Food Security and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Management by the Federal University of Technology, Akure. My groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire generations of lawyers and leaders across Africa and beyond.
In addition to my legal and educational contributions, I remain a committed philanthropist and advocate for reform in various sectors. My vast experience, unmatched expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence make me a trailblazer in the fight for truth, fairness and justice.
Key Achievements:
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), 1987.
Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Lagos (2001-2007).
Founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
Queen Victoria Commemorative Award winner, Oxford UK.
Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of London, Ekiti State University, University of Lagos, and more.
My law firm was established in 1965 and has been nurtured and sustained by the finest legal values including integrity, advocacy, fairness, discipline and justice.
DELE FAROTIMI’S ADMISSION OF CRIME
It is necessary to bring it to your notice that Dele Farotimi admitted to have unlawful access to and corrupted the judiciary when he wrote in page 58 of his book as follows:
“The original Motion prepared by my office was a Motion on Notice. We prepared this and readied our processes to be filed, and then word came to us vide the Ojomu’s palace. Atilade had asked that we filed the motion expatre; this was to avoid a lengthy delay she assured her messangers to me, as having the motion papers served on Afe Babalola & Co will only serve to prolong the resolution of the problems created either by her corruption and or incompetence. My reasoned arguments against the exparte motion were not countenanced by the clients. They all just wanted the mess over and done with. Multi billion naira investments were being undermined by the situation. And several lives were being disrupted they argued”.
DISREGARD FOR RULE OF LAW
It understandable why Dele Farotimi threw caution into the winds in writing his defamatory book. He stated in page 41 of the book, his uttermost disregard for the rule of law as follows:
“It was during one of our heated sessions that I declared my philosophy of law and I believe it was also the day that we began to understand the strength of our synergy and the value and efficiency of our then emergent partnership. I explained to him that I did not read law to follow the rules.”
CONCLUSION
We hereby humbly request that you use your good office to investigate the matter and stop Dele Farotimi from further damaging my reputation, the reputation of my law firm and that of my lawyers.
We also request that all existing hard copies of the said book should be recovered by the police while we take other necessary legal actions against Dele Farotimi.
In addition, his admission of corrupting the judiciary should also be investigated .
We request that this should be treated with utmost urgency in other to preserve the dignity of the temple of justice and the legal profession.
Yours faithfully
Aare Afe Babalola SAN
Founding Partner
Afe Babalola & Co
US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Elon Musk for a role in government cost-cutting, as part of his drive to "dismantle" bureaucracy when he returns to the White House next year.
Tech billionaire Musk, who has called for huge spending cuts, has been picked alongside biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge). The acronym is a nod to Musk's favourite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin.
Trump said the pair would act in an advisory capacity, and that the Doge would not be an official government department.
On the same day, Trump named another political newcomer - Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth - as his pick for defence secretary.
Musk threw millions behind Donald Trump's successful re-election bid, and was hotly tipped for a role in the administration that has so far rewarded loyalists. Trump himself outlined a plan for Musk in government cost-cutting on the campaign trail.
Ramaswamy ran as a Republican candidate for president earlier this year against Trump, before dropping out and endorsing him.
Since triumphing in last week's vote, Trump has been assembling his top team - with another of his one-time Republican rivals, Marco Rubio, reportedly in the frame to be his new secretary of state.
Trump looks likely to enjoy significant support for his legislative agenda in Congress. Republicans won the Senate and are closing in on control of the House.
It remains to be seen how the Doge will operate.
The organisation does not currently exist and, when created, it is not expected to be an official department. Such agencies have to be established through an act of Congress and typically employ thousands of staff.
In Tuesday night’s announcement, Trump acknowledged that it will "provide advice and guidance from outside of government". He said the initiative would help his administration "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies".
He said Musk and Ramaswamy would work with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to tackle "massive waste and fraud" in $6.5tn (£5.1tn) of annual government spending.
Trump has likened the new initiative to the Manhattan Project, a top-secret World War Two programme to develop the first nuclear weapons.
The president-elect said Musk and Ramaswamy would complete their work no later than 4 July (American Independence Day) 2026.
The organisation's name refers to Musk's preferred cryptocurrency - which was itself jokingly in 2013 named after an internet meme. Dogecoin has soared in value over the past week.
