Any group planning any kind of protest in the country would have to think twice before embarking on it.
Here are why.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has directed the Police to use lawful of force lawful force in line with the Constitution. He has also ordered the deployment of all legitimate force to protect the lives and property of citizens including police officers and personnel of other law enforcement agencies and their families, and to prevent attacks on private/public assets from any violent person(s) or group(s) operating under any guise.
The IGP’s order came 24 hours after the Lagos State Police Command banned any kind of protest in the state, alleging plans by some groups to embark on a second phase of the #EndSARS protest that ended in deaths, arson, and monumental loss.
The IGP, in a statement signed by Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, restated that Command Commissioners of Police and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, IGP, should resist all riotous elements forthwith and checkmate any form of violent/riotous protests in line with Section 33 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which among other things provides for the use of such force as is reasonably necessary –
(a) For the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property;
(b) In order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; or
(c) For the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny.
The IGP affirmed that the Force will not tolerate a repeat of the horrendous attacks and killings, arson and wanton destruction, and looting of public and private assets witnessed during the recent violent protests in some parts of the country. He warns that the Force shall deploy the full weight of the law and legitimate force (if necessary) in preventing a reoccurrence.
Recall that in the wake of the #ENDSARS protests and the violence that emanated therefrom, a total of fifty-one (51) civilian fatalities and thirty-seven (37) civilian injuries were recorded, while a total of twenty-two (22) policemen were gruesomely murdered and twenty-six (26) others injured by the protesters. Two hundred and five (205) police stations, corporate facilities and private property were attacked, burnt or vandalized.
The IGP assured law abiding citizens across the country of the Force’s renewed and unwavering commitment to their safety and security especially as we approach the yuletide. He also called for the collaboration and support of citizens in the ongoing reforms of the Force.
His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, to effect the arrest and prosecution of the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, His Lordship Bishop Godfrey Onah.
The usually calm Sultan was upset by an alleged recent attack on Mosques and Muslim faithfuls in Nsukka.
In a petition to the IGP, and the Directorate of State Services, DSS, the Sultan said he had enough evidence indicting Bishop Onah over the attack on Muslims in Nsukka recently.
But reacting to the Petition, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, accused the Sultan of over-heating the polity.
In the petition signed on his behalf by Professor Salisu Shehu, Deputy President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, which President the Sultan is, he accused Bishop Onah of instigating the attack by his alleged inciting Sermon.
Said he: ” On Saturday, October 31, 2020, some Christian bigots unleashed violent and virulent attack on Muslims in Nsukka, and burnt their Mosques as a result of a hateful and inciting Sermon, full of lies and fallacies delivered by one Bishop Reverend Father, Godfrey Onah.
“In the Sermon, it was clear that the Bishop instigated the worshippers against Mosques and Muslims. It would, therefore, require any disagreement, no matter how minute, to execute the premeditated havoc wreaked on the Muslims in the two zones.
“Specifically, we implore you as a matter of urgency to interrogate Reverend Father (Bishop) Godfrey Igwebuike Onah of his hate speech, inciting sermon of lies, fabricated to provoke hatred of Muslims.”
The Sultan is the second person to ask for the Bishop’s arrest. The first was a Media Aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.
But Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA’s National Cordinator, took an exception to the petition, and accused the Sultan of incitement and threat against Christianity by what he called “his unholy petition.”
Onwubiko: “The Sultan is inciting and threatening Christianity by trying to play god, and must not be allowed to achieve his unholy plans. If we sit back and fold our arms, whilst this perceived discrimination is allowed to foster, then we will be shooting ourselves in the foot, and destroying the essence of constitutional democracy.”
HURIWA asked the IGP, and the Director General of the DSS, to dismiss the Sultan’s petition.
Neither Bishop Onah, nor the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has reacted to the Sultan’s unprecedented call for the Bishop’s, arrest, but the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has promised to rebuild the Mosques.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised United States President, Donald Trump, who is on the verge of losing at the ongoing United States polls, to Democratic candidate, Joe Biden to take things calmly, and adhere to democratic ethos.
Trump, sensing defeat, has vowed to head to the Supreme Court to seek redress and get his alleged stolen mandate if he eventually loses.
Jonathan who accepted defeat and congratulated his opponent at the 2015 Presidential Election in Nigeria was advising politicians including Trump, to prioritise the lives of citizens over personal ambition.
Jonathan in a statement on his Facebook page Friday November 6th, 2020, noted that nobody’s ambition was worth the blood of any citizen and urged leaders to not gain power at the cost of losing their honour.
Ex-president Jonathan urged leaders facing challenging situations, either in government, or at the polls to focus on the power of lover rather than the love of power.
He said; “Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any citizen. It is better to gain honour at the cost of losing power, than to gain power at the cost of losing honour.
“At any point in time, the power of love should matter more than the love of power. This is my philosophy. I have lived it. It has brought great peace to both my beloved nation and I.
“And I recommend it to all leaders facing challenging situations, either in government, or at the polls, or even in their dealings with fellow political actors.”
President Trump campaign team had filed multiple lawsuits in Pennsylvania targeting the state’s rules for election observers and mail-in ballots, as well as intervening in an ongoing U.S. Supreme Court case regarding the state’s mail-in ballot deadline,
This came as his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, expanded his lead to secure the presidency in the 2020 US election and as Trump’s chances at a reelection dwindled.
Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has bowed out as the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria.
Bauchi State House of Assembly Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, has been elected as the new chairman.
This followed the end of Obasa’s tenure as Chairman, along with his team, who were elected in August 2018.
The constitution of the conference stipulates a two-year term in office for the leadership which rotates between the North and the South.
At a meeting held at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja, Obasa, who took over from Kebbi House of Assembly Speaker, Ismail Kamba, formally handed over to Suleiman.
The new team which will be in the saddle for the next two years are; Deputy Chairman (Speaker Delta), Sheriff Oborevwori; Treasurer (Speaker Kogi) Matthew Kolawole; Financial Secretary (Speaker Enugu) Edward Ubosi; Vice Chair, North West (Speaker Katsina) Tasiu Musa Maigari; Vice Chair, North East (Speaker Gombe) Sadiq Ibrahim Abubakar.
Others are Vice Chair, North Central (Speaker Plateau) Abok Nuhu Ayuba; Vice Chair, South West (Speaker Ogun) Olakunle Oluomo; Vice Chair, South East (Speaker Ebonyi) Nwifuru Francis; Vice Chair, South South (Speaker Akwa Ibom) Aniekan Bassey.
The Lagos State Police Command has banned protests of any kind. This is a consequence of the #EndSARS Protest which crippled business activities across the nation, leaving behind tears, blood on its trail. The Police was not exempted as it lost personnel, police stations, arms and ammunition.
Lagos state was the epicentre of the protest, and lost, at least, two trillion Naira, and a number of iconic buildings.
A reoccurrence of such tragic experience that saw the peaceful protest hijacked by hoodlums, leading to arson, killings and destruction of Police Stations and other businesses would no longer be condoned or tolerated.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, who spoke through Hakeem Odumos, the Police Public Relation Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, any attempt to organise any protest within the state will no longer be tolerated whatsoever.
Adejobi said the warning became necessary because the command gathered information that some persons within the state were planning to regroup for the #EndSARS protest, warning that they desist from such plans.
The spokesman said such demonstrations, whether peaceful or violent, will not be allowed to take place “as the government and people of Lagos still nurture the wounds of the recent #EndSARS violence that wrecked havoc across the state”.
“The Command wishes to inform the general public that based on intelligence gathering from relevant intelligence agencies, some unpatriotic elements or group of people have concluded plans to orchestrate another set of violence in the state in furtherance to the recent #EndSARS violence, which has been analysed as dangerous and counterproductive,” the statement read.
“Premised on this, the Command, therefore, wishes to warn any individuals, group of students or any groups who might want to stage any form of protest, either “peaceful” or violent, or gathering whatsoever, to desist as the police and other security agencies will collectively and tactically resist any security threats or threats to public peace which might be triggered by protest or protesters in Lagos State.”
Adejobi asked parents and guardians to discourage their children or wards from embarking on any protest in the state.
He added that the “possibility of hijacking it by armed hoodlums to cause grieve and pains like the recent past is evident.”
“We encourage the general public to ignore any call for protest and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order and public safety across the length and breadth of the state,” he said
The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, is set to join the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the Civil Defense in carrying arms.
The House of Representatives confirmed that operatives of the FRSC will begin to bear firearms to curtail the excesses of road users, mostly on the highways.
The House’s Committee on FRSC made the disclosure during the Corps’ 2020 budget performance and 2021 budget defence in Abuja.
This move has come as a surprise to Nigerians.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on FRSC, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayowa, explained that the 1992 Act of FRSC allowed the corps to carry guns, and this hasn’t been implemented, prompting the Committee to give a nod for the FRSC to bear arms as stated in the Constitution.
Mayowa said the implementation had become necessary to ensure laws were obeyed, and to allow the FRSC function effectively.
He disclosed that the committee would meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and also write to President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the Act.
Hon.Solomon Maren, a member of the Committee added that the Committee would discuss the matter with the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, so that there would be a synergy between both institutions.
The lawmaker added that there were more risks on the roads, adding that the FRSC should now bear arms, because of some defiant motorists.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, decried incidents where motorists threatened personnel on duty.
Oyeyemi stressed that weapon bearing for protection would curtail violent road users and protect officers.
He confirmed that the corps has 280 divisions in all the 774 Local Government Area in the country.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu must be summoned to the Lagos state Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to explain his role in the October 20 Lekki shooting of EndSARS protesters by soldiers, said a right group, Lagos Emancipation Project, LEP.
Failure to do this within seven days, the rights body said, it was prepared to go to court to stop the panel from proceeding with its work.
But the 1999 Constitution grants state governors immunity from being personally summoned by any panel of inquiry or court of law.
The LEP headed by a senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN Babatunde Fashanu, in a statement on Thursday, said the governor cannot be a judge in the incident, in which he allegedly played a role.
“It is our belief that the person or authority who invited the military to the scene to take action against peaceful protesters is neck-deep in whatever transpired there and its aftermath and is, at least, one of the dramatis personae to answer for it,” the group said.
The state government set up the Justice Doris Okuwobi’s panel, two weeks ago, to find out why soldiers from the Nigerian Army shot at people protesting police brutality. The state governor confirmed that one protester died from the incident and many others received serious gun injuries.
The governor Sanwo-olu’s government had earlier denied sending the soldiers to disperse the protesters but the military authorities later debunked the claim, insisting that their men move in to the venue after they were invited by the state government.
On October 27, few days after the incident, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Osoba Olaniyi, said the state government called in the military.
“The decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government after a 24- hour curfew was imposed
“This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away.
“The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy,” Olaniyi said.
The government has, however, kept mum after the military spoke, raising serious posers on why it lied in the first instance and the motive behind sending soldiers against peaceful protesters.
That seems to be the concern of the advocacy group which said the state government is trying to be the judge in its own case by setting up the panel.
The human rights body said “By our reckoning, the panel is to sit and submit its report to the Governor of Lagos State, who is empowered to act on it by virtue of the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry Law of Lagos State.
“Having regard to the fact that the governor to be reported to and who is to take action on the report seems to have a case to answer in the matter and he is not allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to act in his own cause, we hereby request that you avoid sitting or hearing any matter on the Lekki Tollgate incident in the proceedings of the judicial panel so that it can be looked at by some other authority who would not have to report to the governor,” the notice read in part.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, on Thursday said they will appear before the panel on Saturday, November 7, to explain its role in the incident contrary to its earlier position.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not hide his feelings and disgust over the criticism levelled on him by former Oyo State Governor, Christopher Alao-Akala.
It was at Akala’s book launch. And some pages of the book contained a few points on the state of the Ibadan-Ilorin road at the time Obasanjo left office.
Obasanjo was one of the dignitaries at the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan. He was the Chairman at the Book Launch, Alao Akala’s Biography, titled, “Amazing Grace”.
Obasanjo commended Alao-Akala for the initiative, saying he exhibited extra courage and discipline needed to write meaningfully, which is both courageous and dangerous to do so.
The former President lambasting Alao-Akala said, “I wonder how you come on page 390 of your book to blame or criticize me for dividing the Ibadan – Ilorin Road to three sections for reconstruction during my second term so that it could be expeditiously completed.
Obasanjo stated further that, Akala as a seating Governor of Oyo State then, who had the privilege to even use one year out of Governor Ladoja’s tenure, noted that up to date the roads are not completed.
He said, “Akala in your biography, you honestly believe that I should be blamed for such, even after I have left office thirteen years ago, but as an Ogbomoso man I can understand how that road is important to you.
“But when I took the steps for that road to expeditiously handled, it was not for your interest as an Ogbomoso man, but for the importance of that road for the economic life of Nigeria and it’s a tragedy that the artery roads remains in the sorry state till today, so it is surprising that you are blaming me for that. All I did was for the interest of Nigeria and not for you, Akala”, Obasanjo stressed.
Alao-Akala in his response appreciated Obasanjo, saying that It is delightful to have powerful people in the country gathered to witness the launch of his Book, entitled Amazing Grace.
“It is even a greater delight to see the creme-de-la-creme of our great country abandon their very tight schedules, just to be part of today’s history-making event”.
Christopher Alao-Akala
Stressing further, he said, “I call this history-making, not strictly for any other reason but for its fulfillment of my long-anticipated desire to codify, so to speak, the remarkable events of my 70 years on earth in a single, accessible copy.
‘This book sets wonky records straight. It properly constructs or even reconstructs some of the tissues of lies spurned about me, especially within the period of my being at the driver’s seat of Oyo state’s administration.
“It situated occurrences, without malice and with an acute presence of mind, in their proper perspectives, carefully appending names of the dramatic personae of events to this critical juncture of history”.
Akala maintained that the book was born out of passion towards fulfilling his desire to bookmark the landmark narratives of his life, how the tragic death of my father in a road accident in 1952 single-handedly threatened to swamp his dream of getting to the cusp of his life aspirations, but how Providence miraculously found for him a path to the top.
Akala maintained that without prejudice to the erudition of the book reviewer who is saddled with the task of dissecting it into pieces, the title of the book, Amazing Grace, is not a happenstance. It is the audacity of Providence to bring me out of the dungeon of a hopeless tomorrow into the fulfillment of a life.
He further said, In Amazing Grace, the reader would pick historical nuggets of police’s recent history and my personal interface with that history. It perhaps would redraw whatever unpleasant impression Nigerians have of their friends in the police and situate the force in the right perspective.
Alao-Akala added that he did not shy away in the tradition bequeathed to him by Iya Alaro, from acknowledging and documenting the strides of the angels that Providence used to push me to the heights I occupy today.
He,however, amply recounted all the angels from late Retired IGP, Chief Sunday Adedayo Adewusi, Late Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu to President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“I want to thank my Baba, the “Ebora Owu” and the chairman of this occasion, who had to forfeit many prime events and schedules to be here. To the people so numerous to acknowledge your labor of sacrifice, I am highly grateful to you all”.
Speaking at the occasion, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi maintained that Akala speaks many languages and that shows how accommodating he is as a person.
He said, the book should be a must for students of politics in the higher institutions, for the partisan politicians, and also for the media houses so as to serve as a source of factual findings for them.
Fayemi also said that it’s necessary for politicians to write books so it can serve the incoming generation on how to go about politics and governance.
Also gracing the occasion was the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, who openly criticized Alao- Akala for not remembering him and his role played during the time he became the Deputy Governor and Governor of the State.
The event was well attended by Political, royal institutions, and also the business classes of the society, such as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Ooni of Ife, who was able represented by His Royal Highness, Oba Asoya of Isoya, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Saliu Adetunji, Senator. Teslim Folarin, Senator. Fatai Buhari, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Chief Mrs. Bose Adelabu among others.
Already looking beyond the Hon Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Panel set-up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the various allegations against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, CP Ibrahim Magu, his lead Counsel, Wahab Shittu, says the Appeal Court will set his Client free if found guilty by the Panel.
Shittu, who, in a statement, Wednesday,picked holes at the proceedings of the Tribunal, said it was being very unfair to Magu
He criticised the panel for its continuous invitation to witnesses behind Magu’s back, six weeks after Magu had closed his defence, describing such action as patently illegal and offensive to the principles of fair hearing.
He alleged that the witnesses being invited by the Panel are those either under investigation, or under prosecution by the EFFC.
Shittu: “We understand from reports reaching us that the Panel has continued to invite witnesses about six weeks after our Client has closed his defence.
“The invitation of witnesses who have cases to answer, and those who are being prosecuted by the EFCC, to testify behind my client, and the verification of assets in his absence, are patently illegal, and offend the principle of fair hearing.
“About six weeks ago, our client concluded his defence. Between that time and now, a lot has happened. First, the Panel embarked on a verification exercise of assets nationwide in the absence of our Client. Verification of assets is part of evidence gathering, and can be likened to locus-in-quo.”
Shittu cited Section 207(2) of the CPA, and argued: “The accused shall be present at the view. The accused must be present at the locus. If an inspection of the locus is undertaken, and the accused person is absent, this is an irregularity.
“If the accused suffered a miscarriage of justice as a result of this irregularity, an Appeal Court would set aside a conviction…” see identical provisions contained in CPC, s, 234 and proviso (11) to Evidence Act Sec. 76.”
The Counsel, also, slammed Salami for inviting officials of the Commission under the guise that while Magu was in office, he was interfering with the functions of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.
But, on the contrary, he said, Magu only set-up the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing and Terrorism Unit.This Unit is responsible for intelligence gathering – to solve the allegations that the EFCC engages suspects without prior intelligence which affects and hampers proper investigation of cases.
President Buhari set up the Judicial Panel under the Chairmanship of Salami, a retired President of the Court of Appeal, based on a damning petition to the President by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, against the suspended EFCC Acting Chairman.
This is not the first time a member of Magu’s legal team would lay allegations of unfair hearing, and wanting to find him guilty by all means, against Salami and his members.
The residents of Oyigbo, Rivers State, are heaving a sigh of relief, no matter how small.
Obviously under pressure, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has relaxed the 24/7 curfew he imposed on the Community.
An angry Wike, in the wake of the #EndSARS protest, had imposed the curfew following the violence that accompanied it. This stemmed from the killing of six soldiers, at least two Police officers, and the razing of all Police stations and Courts in Oyigbo, allegedly, according to both Governor Wike and Mr Mukan, Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, hold members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, responsible for the mayhem.
Wike had subsequently banned IPOB and its activities in the State, and placed a N50m bounty on the head of its alleged leader in Oyigbo. He, also, asked Security Agents to fish out the alleged IPOB members who wreaked havoc in the state, accusing the organisation of trying to over-run the state.
For one, he accused IPOB of using Oyigbo as a launching pad; of trying to rename a Local Government in the State; and of hoisting the Biafran flag in a public school in Komkom Community.
IPOB denies the allegation of the killings and destructions, and arson. But soldiers have since taken over the Community in search of the IPOB members who allegedly killed, especially, six of their colleagues.
Residents of Oyigbo allege that the soldiers have since embarked on a spree of mass arrests and the killing of many youths, without any proof of their membership of IPOB.
To compound the Oyigbo problem, the 24/7 curfew has denied the people of any means of livelihood. Hunger reign, and the health of many has either been affected or worsened, since all shops, pharmacies and hospitals are closed.
Wike has been accused by many people of not only inviting soldiers to arrest and kill Igbo youths in Oyigbo, but to starve people to death, no thanks to the curfew.
However, the Governor vehemently denies the allegations, and accuses his political enemies of the allegations against him. He said he does not control the deployment of soldiers, but admitted that they were after IPOB members who allegedly killed and maimed and destroyed.
Already, the Police have arrested four IPOB members who they accuse of being part of those who razed the Afam Police station, and killed the the Divisional Crime Officer.
Reports from PH indicate that following several appeals and outrage which greeted the 24/7 curfew in the past, almost, two weeks, the Governor has relaxed it for some hours to enable the people restock.
However, the public outcry over Oyigbo continues. And not a few people are asking for an Inquiry to look into what caused it, and the aftermath.
