NIMASA Shuts 2 Terminals For Violating ISPS Codes

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July 17, 2025

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, in its role as the Designated Authority for implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS, Code in Nigeria, has shut down ShellPlux and TMDK Terminals, both located in the Ijegun-Egba area of Lagos.

The enforcement action follows persistent non-compliance by the facilities with the provisions of the ISPS Code, despite several formal warnings. The move aligns with global best practices and is in accordance with Section 79(f) of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations (2014), which mandates the closure of any facility that remains in violation for over three calendar months.

Speaking on the development, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasized the Agency’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain.

“In wielding the big stick, we acted only as a last resort,” he said. “Our primary goal is to enforce safety and security practices across Nigerian ports and jetties. At a time when we are collaborating with the United States Coast Guard to lift the conditions of entry on vessels from Nigeria, we cannot afford lapses that jeopardize our progress.”

Mobereola added that the facilities would be reopened once all compliance requirements are satisfactorily met, acknowledging their important role in service delivery and trade facilitation. Our Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola is committed to enhanced sustainable trade facilitation for the maritime sector in a safe and conducive environment

The ISPS Code, an amendment to the SOLAS Convention, was developed by the International Maritime Organization, IMO, to enhance maritime and port security, particularly for facilities engaged in international trade.

Atiku’s Resignation Letter Leaked By PDP Rogues To Malign Him

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 17, 2025

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The resignation letter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was deliberately leaked by those who did not wish him well.

Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe made the remark on Wednesday while speaking on Arise News, saying the opponents of the 2023 PDP presidential candidate intended to make a political gains from the issue.

Ibe spoke after Abubakar received serious criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which criticised the appropriateness of Abubakar’s resignation, citing the mood in the country because of the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

For instance, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo trenchantly criticised Abubakar, accusing him of being insensitive to the feelings of Nigerians who are still mourning the late president.

The magazine reported that Abubakar resigned from the PDP, in a letter dated July 14, and addressed to the PDP chairman in his ward in Adamawa state.

Reacting, Ibe said some mischievous persons in the PDP working in cahoots with elements in the APC leaked the resignation letter to the media, saying their intention was to demonise Abubakar among Nigerians.

He stressed that those who leaked the letter did not wish the former Presidential candidate well.

He urged Keyamo to focus on how to transform the aviation sector rather than allow himself to be distracted by issues that do not benefit the sector.

Ibe said the leak “is the handiwork of rogue elements in the PDP working in cahoots with APC members.”

Adding that, “Those who claim to know why he resigned, are they clairvoyants? I would rather say we speak on something else and not this particular issue, considering the fact that the nation is still in mourning and the memories of the late President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was just interred yesterday, are still fresh.

“It’s unfortunate that the Minister of Aviation, who rather should be concerned with serious issues of aviation matters and there are plenty of them, like runways and better infrastructure, jumped into this fray as though knowing what caused an accident even before investigation.”

Abubakar, the magazine reported formally resigned from the PDP, days after he led some key opposition figures in the country into the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the party said will be used as a platform to wrestle power from the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Wike Took Away 11,000 Hectares Of Land From UNIABUJA, Left Us With 2,000 Mountainous Hectares” – Pro Chancellor

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Adesina Soyooye

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July 17, 2025

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By Adesina Soyooye

Senator Kingibe alleges Wike allocated land to his son and slashed the cost from N200m to N2m only.

Dr. Lanre Tejuosho, a former Senator, and the Pro Chancellor of the University of Abuja, has lamented the short-changing of the institution by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Tejuosho who spoke on Arise Television’s Prime Time, anchored by Charles Aniagolu, disclosed that Wike has literally taken all the land belonging to the University and left it with little or nothing.

He revealed that the Minister took away 11,000 hectares of the University’s land, and left it with 4,000 hectares.

But here’s the sad part, according to the Pro Chancellor.

Out of the 4,000 hectares, 2000 it of no use as it is a sprawling mountain. He, therefore, asked the Minister to come and take the 2,000 mountainous hectares and develop.

The Minister’s action, he said, has already affected the development of the University.

An immediate fallout of the slashing of the land is that the Cancer Research Centre of Nigeria which wanted to partner with the University to develop a Cancer Research Centre, would have no space.

Tejuosho: “Even the 4,000 hectares, 2,000 out of it is a mountain. When you fly out of the Airport, the mountain you see is the University. Looking at what has been proposed, we only have 2,000 hectares because we have a mountain of 2,000 hectares. May be Minister Wike should come and take over the mountain and develop it.”

Meanwhile, the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, has alleged corruption on the part of Minister Wike as it concerns land allocation.

Kingibe, whose relationship with Wike is very untidy, allegeges that the Minister allocated a N200 million Abuja land to his son and slashed the cost to N2 million only.

“I have the facts and the documents of his corruption”, she insisted.

Wike had, on a couple of times, denied any allocation of land to any of his sons.

Ondo Police Command Arrests Two Suspects Linked To Murder Of AAUA Students

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Ayodele Oni

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July 17, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

Landlord of victim was the mastermind

The Ondo State Police Command has announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the murder of two students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, (AAUA).

The State Police Commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed at a media briefing in Akure that one of the suspects, was arrested at Computer village, Ikeja, Lagos State.

According to him, “The two deceased students, Abah John Friday, 25, and his friend, Okah Andrel Eloho, 19, went missing since June 20, until the decomposed body of one of them was discovered near a border town between Ondo and Ekiti States.

“Following a petition dated June 24, 2025, submitted by G.O. Omoedu & Co., Legal Practitioners, on behalf of one Mr. Emmanuel Peter of Shagari Village, Akure, Ondo State, the Command launched an intensive investigation into the reported abduction of his younger brother, one Abah John Friday, 25, and his friend, Okah Andrel Eloho, 19, both students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko—who went missing on June 20, 2025.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives from the Anti-kidnapping swung into action. Forensic tracking led investigators to Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, where an iPhone 14 Pro Max belonging to one of the victims was recovered from one Abdul Mohammed Mubarak, 38.

“Mubarak confessed to purchasing the phone from one Ojo Michael, whose arrest was subsequently affected in Aramoko-Ekiti.

“A Lexus RX 350 vehicle belonging to the victims was also recovered at the point of arrest.

Under interrogation, Ojo Michael confessed to participating in the robbery, abduction, and eventual murder of the victims.

“He further disclosed that the operation was masterminded by one Oladele Femi ‘m’—the landlord of the male victim—who allegedly engaged him and another accomplice (identified as “Kola”, currently at large) to carry out the crime.

“Investigation’s revealed that the sum of ₦800,000 was transferred from the victim’s account during their captivity.

Michael also admitted to raping the female victim.

“Upon recognizing him and unmasking his identity, she was executed along with her friend to prevent them from exposing the perpetrators. Their bodies were subsequently disposed of at separate locations between Agbado and Ode-Ekiti.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Oladele Femi, who, during confrontation, confessed to initiating the plot and aiding in the concealment of the murders.

“Acting on this confession, detectives recovered the body of the female victim in a bush near Ode-Ekiti, and it has since been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.

“Efforts are ongoing to recover the remains of the male victim, who is believed to have been dumped in a river by an accomplice still at large.

“This case stands as a tragic reminder of the brutality of premeditated crimes and the devastating consequences of betrayal and greed. The victims—young, promising undergraduates—were senselessly raped and murdered in cold blood.

“The Command assures the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspect at large, recover the remains of Abah John Friday, and bring all responsible parties to justice.”

How We Brought Buhari Into Politics To Checkmate OPC

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 17, 2025

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A chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Buba Galadima has disclosed that the late President Muhammadu Buhari was drafted into politics by some prominent Northern leaders, to checkmate the influence of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC.

The ANPP chieftain made the remark while speaking on Arise Television, saying Buhari was not even aware of the plan.

Galadima spoke after the demise and interment of the former president.

Buhari died in London on Sunday, after a protracted illness, and was buried in his Daura, Katsina home on Wednesday.

According to Galadima, some northern leaders were not happy that the OPC was making an incursion into Ilorin, Kwara state during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who they believed did not do anything to stop the Gani Adams-led OPC, who had declared Ilorin a Yorubaland.

He said the northern leaders felt the need to counter OPC, that’s why Buhari was brought into the picture.

He said, “Some of us who recruited him into politics had a mission, and I will reveal that mission today.

“General Buhari came into politics, it wasn’t his province, he never liked politicians because he believed we are fake and that we don’t mean what we say but there was an incident that made some of us to recruit him, convince him and use other people to convince him to join politics, even though we had our own agenda.

“In 2000, the OPC was on rampage in some parts of the country, especially in the southwest. They had inconvenienced a lot of people from this part of the country to the extent that they mobilised over 500 vehicles to come and invade Ilorin with the sole aim of uprooting what they called Fulani structures in Ilorin and we felt that was too much and President (Olusegun) Obasanjo was doing nothing, President Bola Tinubu, then Governor of Lagos was doing nothing.

“And some of us felt that those group of people were (sic) being encouraged by their leaders in positions of authority. So, how do we stop that? And I called a meeting in Kaduna at Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu’s house in a place called Dongo Kanji, directly opposite the house of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

“And some of those we invited included Alhaji Wada Nas, Prof. Yadudu, Bashir Dalhatu himself, Alhaji Yahaya Suleiman and a host of others, about 34 of us. And we sat down to reason, ‘How do we save our people from this OPC menace?

“So I suggested that we have to because you can remove a government through only two ways, through the barrel of a gun and through the ballot box.

“And they said it was impossible to challenge General Obasanjo. That was how Buhari came to our mind and when he was approached, he had very unkind words for politicians but since he didn’t say he was not doing, we still persuaded him.

“To cut long story short, we achieved our first purpose of putting a brake to what OPC was doing because immediately Buhari joined partisan politics, we had a very big outing in Daura to initiate him into politics. The Obasanjo government became restive and was shaking to its bone marrow and because those were some of our thinking, Obasanjo had to really checkmate the OPC. So we achieved our first purpose of bringing General Buhari into partisan politics so the remaining now is history.”

Buhari served as Nigeria’s military head of state and President.

Dele Momodu, Quits Party, Joins ADC, Says He Has “Abandoned The Carcass To Them”

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Ayodele Oni

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July 17, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

A former Presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dele Momodu, has formally resigned from the party, less than 24 hours after Atiku Abubakar.

Momodu, premised his resignation on the Party being hijacked by undemocratic forces.

In a resignation letter dated July 17, 2025, and addressed to the PDP Ward 4 Chairman in Ihievbe, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, Momodu said his decision to quit the party takes immediate effect.

“My reason is simple and straightforward. Our party has been unarguably hijacked by antidemocratic forces, from within and outside, in broad daylight.

“It is, therefore, honorable to abandon the carcass of the party to them while the majority of us earnestly sign up with the new coalition party known as the African Democratic Congress (ADC).”

Momodu, expressed appreciation to the ward leadership for their loyalty and support since he joined the party in 2021. He had been an active participant in national debates and party activities since then.

His defection to the ADC is seen as a significant development in Edo State’s political landscape and is expected to boost the emerging coalition’s influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Momodu’s resignation adds to the growing list of high-profile exits from the PDP, as discontent deepens over the party’s internal leadership crisis and direction.

Enugu: Shock As Two Sisters, Both Security Agents, Kidnap Brother For Ransom

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The Source

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July 17, 2025

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By Charles Igbo

Shock and shouts of sacrilege were the reaction to the kidnap incident which involved two sisters. The victim?: Their elder brother.

If the act was sacrilegious, the shocking aspect is that both sisters, Juliet Chukwu and Ngozi Chukwu, are Security Agents. While Juliet is of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Ngozi is of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The two, according to reports, conspired with four others, now at large, and, allegedly, kidnapped their elder brother, Friday Chukwu for ransom.

The asking price to effect his release: N30 million Naira.

For their courage to mastermind the heinous crime of the abduction of their brother for financial gains, the two are cooling their legs in Police custody. They have been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command.

The two, allegedly, arranged for the kidnap of their brother, Friday, in June. It was effected near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. They hail from Amaeze Ishiagu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.

Their brother was released after the sum of N30m was raised and paid.

Their brother’s kidnap was not their only involvement in the business of kidnapping for ransom.

They, allegedly, masterminded the kidnap of Engr. Dennis Igwe, the General Manager of China Oriental Mining Company, Engr. within the same area on Monday.

But Igwe’s abduction was their undoing. Their cup filled up when they were traced and arrested in a hotel where they chose to share the N10 million ransom paid for Igwe’s release.

They were promptly arrested.

In a Facebook post, Comrade Chika Nwoba, appealed to security agencies to ensure the matter is not swept under the carpet.

His post read: “News broke in June, 2025, about the kidnap of one Mr. Friday Chukwu along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, an elder brother to Mrs Juliet Chukwu who is a Civil Defence officer and Mrs. Ngozi Nancy Chukwu who is an Immigration Officer all from Amaeze, Ishiagu, Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State and it was alleged that the sum of N30 million was paid as ransom before the release of Mr. Friday Chukwu.

“Weeks later, on Monday 14/7/2025, the CEO of China Oriental Quarry Company, Engr. Igwe Denis Chibueze was kidnapped along the same route with a demand of N10 million.

The stakeholders rallied the sum with a security link and they were trailed to a hotel room where they were sharing the proceeds of their criminal act.

“They have been previously alleged to have link to many criminal activities happening around Ishiagu in Ebonyi State, ranging from conniving with Fulani herders to stage kidnap along Ishiagu road, looting of railway rails and properties and vandalization of pipeline among other heinous crimes.

“The source through which they escape in many of their crimes is still unknown, but the recent case shouldn’t be treated like other of their crimes and the Nigerian Civil Defence Corp and Immigration Service should meet the case with the punishment it deserves.”

Chief Emmanuel Ajah, Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, confirmed the arrest of the two sisters. He however said that even though the crimes happened outside his jurisdiction, he had written to both the Enugu Police Command and the Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.

His words: “Yes. We are aware of the incidents; but it didn’t happen in my Local Government Area. The incidents took place in Enugu State. The sisters to Mr Friday Chukwu, who is my friend have been arrested. They said they are six, so four people are still on the run. I have written to both the Enugu Police Command and the Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.”

Chris Asoluka’s Final Journey Home Begins

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The Source

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July 17, 2025

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By Charles Igbo

The funeral rites of Dr. Chris Chigoziri Asoluka begin on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Lagos, with a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs.

Dr Asoluka, a renowned and accomplished Development and Policy Strategist, Lawyer, Politician, Financial Analyst, unexpectedly, passed on May 9, 2025. He was aged 70 years.

His passing, which shook, especially, Corporate Nigeria, was announced by his son, Jamachi Chris-Asoluka, in a statement.

Part of the statement read: “With deep sorrow, but with grateful hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, in-law, patriarch, Dr. Chris Asoluka (Okwuruoha)

“Surrounded by love and held in grace, Daddy transitioned from this world just before midnight on Friday, May 9, 2025, with the calm dignity that defined his life.”

Beginning in Lagos, where he resided, from Thursday, July 17, 2025, his send off from mother-earth stretches to Sunday, July 25, 2025, after his interment on Friday, July 24, 2025, at his hometown, Ihiagwa, Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State.

The funeral programme tagged

Celebration of Life stated the events that would culminate in the final farewell as follows:

LAGOS

*Thursday, July 17th Service of Songs/Night of Tributes:

Harbour Point, Victoria Island, 4:00 pm

*Friday, July 18th

Commendation Service:

Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, 10:00 am.

OWERRI

*Wednesday, July 23rd: Service of Songs / Wake-Keep:

Chris Asoluka Country Home, Ihiagwa, 4:00 pm

*Thursday, July 24th Obsequies:

St. John’s Anglican Church, Ihiagwa, 10:00 am, followed by Interment at Chris Asoluka Country Home, Ihiagwa.

*Friday, July 25th:

A Day of Honour by Nde Owerre.

Chris Asoluka Country Home, Ihiagwa — 12:00 noon.

*Sunday, July 27th

Family Thanksgiving and Outing Service:

St. John’s Anglican Church, Ihiagwa — 9:00 am.

Dr Asoluka, a Chief, was a fomer member of the House of Representatives. He was, also, a former Commissioner for Finance, Imo State. Asoluka was also a Knight of St Christopher, KSC, Anglican Communion.

Married to the lovely Nneka Chris-Asoluka, a Lawyer, the very happy couple had three children and grand children.

Police Dismantles, Arrests Members Of Port Harcourt’s Dreaded Cult Groups

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 16, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Rivers State Police Command has announced the arrest of two identified notorious cultists believed to be, allegedly, behind the recent wave of cult-related violent activities and killings in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt.

The Command informed that the interception of Diseye Ukulu, 36, from Bayelsa State, but resident in Diobu area of the Rivers state capital, subsequently led to the arrest of his comrade- in-crime, one Achionu Solomon Chukwuma, popular as Solex.

A statement on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Irenge -Koko, said that Ukulu’s arrest was sequel to an intelligence-driven operation by a combined team of operatives from the Special Operations and Intelligence Team SOIT, Hawk Tactical Squad and Anti-Cultism Unit, as well as members of the Diobu Local Vigilante Group.

According to her, the special operation targeted inter-confraternity rivalries between the members of the D12 and BS secret cult groups who are strongly believed to be behind the activities of the notorious and dreaded Deygbam Cultic gang.

The group, according to the Police, has been discovered to be the masterminds of the spate of brutal violence and killings rocking Diobu and other Port Harcourt City neighbourhoods of late.

The Police authorities further noted that Ukulu’s confessional statement resulted in the apprehension of Chukwuma ,and recovery of a Scorpion VZ61 Submachine gun.

Other dangerous weapons also seized during the operation include a fabricated English-made Beretta pistol ,and over 20 rounds of 5.56 live ammunition.

“The firearm is believed to have been used in various criminal activities and its recovery will aid in the investigation and prosecution of the suspects.”

The police also found 20 rounds of 5.56 mm live ammunition and two rounds of 9mm live ammunition .A pair of screw- drivers were also recovered from the suspect’s residence”, the police noted.

According to Irenge-Koko, the suspects and the recovered exhibits are, presently in custody, pending the conclusion of investigations.

She informed that efforts are also ongoing to track down other members of the dread cultist gangs who at large.

‎NPF Probes 151 Officers For Misconduct

By

Ayodele Oni

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July 16, 2025

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Kayode Egbetokun - Inspector General of Police - IGP

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) is currently interrogating 151 senior officers for various offences.

Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that their trial commenced since Monday at the Force headquarters, Abuja.

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‎Adejobi stated that “In a decisive step towards reinforcing internal accountability and professional standards, one hundred and fifty-one (151) senior police officers are currently facing the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) over various pending disciplinary matters.

“The exercise commenced today Monday, 14th July till Friday, 25th July 2025, at the IGP Smart Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

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‎”The Force Disciplinary Committee is an essential internal structure responsible for reviewing and adjudicating cases of alleged breaches of professional conduct, misconduct, and ethical violations involving senior officers of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and above.

“The affected officers, drawn from various commands and formations across the country, are expected to undergo a thorough and transparent review process in line with extant police regulations and disciplinary procedures for final recommendation to the Police Service Commission.

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‎”The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to discipline and ethical conduct within the Force.

“He emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force will not condone any form of indiscipline or misconduct.

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‎”The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to promoting integrity, professionalism, and public trust.

“The disciplinary process reflects the Force’s keenness to maintaining an accountable and service-driven institution, where standards are upheld and the rule of law is respected from within. “