President Bola Tinubu’s old post on X, formerly known as Twitter, favouring protest against former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has surfaced online.

Tinubu at the time urged the police not to attack protesters because their lives and children were involved.

“Police. Do not attack protesters. Your children are involved. Your lives are involved. Your children’s future lies here,” Tinubu had written before he became the President.

DAILY POST recalls that there were a series of protests during Jonathan’s administration, with Tinubu and many other prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, then throwing their support behind protests against the government.

The President’s former position on protests against the government resurfaced amid plans by some Nigerian youths to commence nationwide protests beginning August 1-10, 2024.

DAILY POST reports that the protest, which is currently gaining traction in the North and other parts of the country, is aimed at drawing the attention of governments at all levels to the worsening economic hardship in the nation.

It’s also being alleged that the Nigeria Police Force is initiating plans to halt the planned protest.

The police, in an internal memo sighted by DAILY POST, said “Some groups are mobilizing for mass protest nationwide beginning from 1 to 10 2024”.

The memo, dated July 8 and copied to zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, requested the operatives to be proactive and “mobilize well-kitted and equipped personnel” ahead of the protest.

However, one of the X users, @Emir Sirdam, who shared the President’s post on X in November 2013, drew the attention of the police to Tinubu’s words about the protest.

He wrote: “Your words will be your greatest enemy. Dear Nigerian Police @PoliceNG take note.”

While @Comrade Isah Muhhamed wrote: “@PoliceNG come and see this. So when we come out, you abide by this principle.”

The Federal Government has said the next stage of the recruitment exercise for the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Fire Service would begin in August.

The Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Ahmed added that the Board would conclude the recruitment exercise, which was billed to end on June 15, 2024, will now end before the end of September.

He said, “The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board wishes to inform the general public that it will commence the next stage of the recruitment exercise in August, and will conclude the exercise before the end of September 2024.”

Ahmed announced that all shortlisted candidates would be duly notified of the next stage of the recruitment exercise through their contact details.

The Secretary, however, apologised for the inability to complete the exercise as earlier scheduled due to manpower audits carried out by Services under the Board.

He added, “The board wishes to apologise for its inability to complete the process by 15th June 2024, as earlier intended. 

“This is due to a nationwide manpower audit exercise carried out in the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which was just recently concluded.

“All shortlisted candidates will be duly notified of the next stage through their phone numbers and email addresses.”

The Federal Government has admitted there is food insecurity in the country but assured Nigerians that the situation is being addressed and the prices of commodities will soon come down.

Food inflation has reached over 40 per cent in recent months according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), pushing the prices of essential commodities beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians.

But the Minister of State for Agriculture Aliyu Abdullahi said with several programmes by the Federal Government, the prices of commodities will reduce.

“You will see a lot of programmes trying to dampen [reduce prices] the situation,” he said on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“Agriculture has a time frame. Now, a lot of production is ongoing. We are in the rainy season and if you look at the fields, there is a lot of cropping going on. Those croppings are not food,” Abdullahi said.

“They will only translate to food after three months. So, until then, this story you are talking about will continue.”

The minister said the country had in the past relied more on rainy season farming.

“We realised over the past few years that we have not been taking our dry season agriculture seriously,” he said but noted that the ministry is addressing it.

Justice Haleema Salman of the Kwara State High Court, the presiding judge in the April 5, 2018 bank robbery in the ancient town of Offa, Offa Local Government Area, has reserved judgement in the six-year trial of six suspects in the bloody bank robbery for August 2, 2024.

The presiding judge on Monday adopted final written addresses which contained arguments of the two lead counsels in the matter, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) for the state and Mathew Emeribe, the defence counsel.

In Court on Monday, the prosecution and defence teams adopted their addresses one after the other on point of law.

However, the presiding judge said that the August 2, 2024 date for judgement is tentative.

Six suspects: a policeman, Michael Adikwu (deceased), Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham were arrested in connection with the bloody armed robbery incident.

Ayoade Akinnibosun and four others are currently standing trial in the case which began on November 11, 2018.

It is recalled that on April 5, 2018, some suspected armed robbers attacked five commercial banks in the ancient Offa town in the Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing over 30 persons in the process, including nine policemen.

The five suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, and two others were charged to court by the Police for criminal conspiracy to rob the banks, murder of nine policemen and other citizens, and illegal possession of firearms.

Michael Adikwu died in police custody while the remaining five pleaded not guilty.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has suspended the enforcement of the digitalised central motor registry (e-CMR) indefinitely.

In a statement on Sunday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the suspension will enable “mass enlightenment and education” of Nigerians on the initiative.

Adejobi said the e-CMR scheme is not a “revenue-generating platform but an initiative to digitise policing for effectiveness and general safety” of Nigerians.

He added that Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, has urged police officers not to extort the public in the name of e-CMR certificates.

“The inspector-general of police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered an immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR initially scheduled to commence on the 29th of July, 2024,” the statement reads.

“This is to give ample benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.

“In the same vein, the IGP charges all police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public on the guise of not having e-CMR certificates will be sanctioned accordingly as the enforcement which will be done by only dedicated officers has been suspended till further notice.”

THE CONTROVERSY

On Saturday, the NPF said it will commence the enforcement of the e-CMR by July 29.

Adejobi had said the e-CMR is a real-time online archive of vehicle data designed to support police investigations and combat vehicle-related crimes.

Responding to the development, the Nigerian Bar Association — Section of Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), asked the police to stop the issuance of e-CMR certificates and refund all monies to vehicle owners.

The NBA-SPIDEL threatened to initiate legal action if the police failed to act accordingly within seven days.

The statement was signed by John Aikpokpo-Martin, chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, and Funmi Adeogun, its secretary.

In its response to the statement, Adejobi said the police have the right to initiate any approach aimed at curbing crime in the country.

Reacting to the statement, Akorede Lawal, spokesperson of the NBA national leadership, said Aikpokpo-Martins and Adeogun did not seek the consent of the association before writing to the police.

Lawal also said the duo have been removed as executives of NBA-SPIDEL since February 2024.

Charly Boy, the ace Nigerian singer, has urged Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, the controversial pastor known as Odumeje, to use his purported spiritual powers to save Nigeria from its current hardships.

The singer’s plea follows Odumeje’s recent criticism of Aliko Dangote for not responding to his prophetic warning about a disaster at his refinery.

Odumeje claimed that the refinery would not have caught fire if Dangote had sought his intervention.

Weighing in on the matter, Charly Boy called on Odumeje to focus his spiritual efforts on alleviating the suffering in Nigeria and save the nation from “burning”.

He also advised the clergyman to disregard Dangote, stating that the billionaire is out of touch with the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians.

“Dear Odumeje, We Nigerians have humbly come to you – please can you stop the nation from burning, fire is catching, the economy is plummeting. We ask for your power in this desperate time of need,” he wrote.

“Abeg no mind Dangote, he get plenty money oo, this hunger no dey reach him side that’s why E no understand say E go humble before the Indabosky #Naijamatter.”

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently reported that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19 percent in June 2024, up from 33.95 percent in May..

According to the bureau, food inflation also surged to 40.87 percent in the month under review as prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages continued to surge.

The police in Kenya have arrested a man over the serial killing of women.

The suspect reportedly confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, since 2022.

The dismembered bodies of the victims, said to be aged between 18 and 30, were found on Friday at the Mukuru quarry in Nairobi.

The police cordoned off the dump site where the bodies were found in various stages of decomposition.

According to the BBC, the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Jomaisi Khalisia, was arrested at a bar on Monday morning while watching the Euro final.

Mohamed Amin, the police head of the directorate of criminal investigations (DCI), said Khalisia’s arrest followed a “forensic analysis” of a mobile phone that belonged to Josephine Mulongo Owino, one of the victims.

Amin said the suspect led police officers to his house, which was about 100 metres from the crime scene, where they found a machete they “believed was being used to dismember the victims”, and nine sacks like the ones used to dispose of the bodies.

The police also recovered 10 phones, a laptop, identity cards and personal female clothing.

Police said they were still interrogating the suspect to establish the motive behind the killings, adding that he would be arraigned on Tuesday.

The police asked families “who believe that their beloved ones may have fallen prey to these macabre murders” to report to the police.

“It is crystallising that we are dealing with a serial killer, a psychopathic serial killer who has no respect for human life, who has no respect and dignity,” Amin said.

He said a second person with a phone belonging to one of the victims has also been arrested and would be treated as an accomplice or suspect.

Nigeria’s food inflation has reached an all-time high of 40.87 per cent as the Bola Tinubu-led government embarked on reforms that have spiked the cost of living.

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday show that in June 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 34.19 per cent relative to the May 2024 headline inflation rate of 33.95 per cent.

The country’s inflation has risen on a year-on-year basis by 11.40 per cent compared with the 22.79 per cent recorded last year.

Food inflation has also grown to 40.87 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Compared to last year, the figure is 15.62 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2023 of 25.25 per cent.

NBS said food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices: Millet Whole grain, Garri, Guinea corn, etc (Bread and Cereals Class), Yam, Water Yam, Coco Yam (Potatoes, Yam & Other Tubers Class), Groundnut Oil, Palm Oil, etc (Oil & Fats Class) and Catfish Dried, Dried Fish-Sadine and Mudfish (Fish Class), etc.

NBS said, “On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in June 2024 was 2.55 per cent which shows a 0.26 per cent increase compared to the rate recorded in May 2024 (2.28 per cent).

“The rise in Food inflation on a Month-on-Month basis was caused by the rise in the rate of increase in the average prices of Groundnut Oil, Palm Oil, etc (Oil & Fats Class), Water Yam, Coco Yam, Cassava, etc (Potatoes, Yam & Other Tubers Class), Tobacco, Catfish Fresh, Croaker, Mudfish Fresh, Snail, etc, (Fish Class).”

In May last year, President Tinubu removed fuel subsidies which led to hike in energy cost while the Central Bank of Nigeria floated the currency leading to the depreciation of the currency to N1560 per dollar.

Also, banditry and kidnapping in the food-producing hub of the country have persisted as farmers for years do not have access to their farmlands.

In some areas, farmers pay fines to bandits to access their farms.

A Kano State High Court, on Monday, granted a perpetual injunction restraining the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, and Four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye from parading themselves as emirs.

The applicants are the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker Kano State House of Assembly and the Kano State House of Assembly, through their counsel Ibrahim Isah-Wangida Esq, filed a motion exparte dated May 27.

The applicants sought a court order restraining Ado-Bayero, and Four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye from parading themselves as emirs.

The respondents are: Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero Bichi emir, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar ll, emir of Karaye, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa, emir of Rano and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya, emir of Gaya.
Others are the Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Nigeria Army.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, held that the Kano State House of Assembly had powers to amend and propose a bill for the peace and good governance of a state under section 4 rule 6,7(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“The Kano State Governor has the right to ascent the proposed bill to law after being passed by the state assembly”

The court also restrained the Police and other security agencies from violating, disobeying or tempering the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024.

“The deposed Emirs shall surrender all movable and immovable properties in their possession that belong to the Kano State Emirate Council to the state government” Adamu-Aliyu said
She held that the first respondent legal counsel withdrawal without notice to other parties is unprofessional and that moving their motion is as good as not filing it since it has been abandoned.

The judge said the act of the 6th to 9 respondent for smuggling the first respondent to Kano after the enactment of the Emirate Repeal Law 2024 disregards what they have sworn for the protection of life and property.

Earlier, Counsel to the applicant, Mr Ibrahim Isa-Wangida, urged the court to discount the respondent’s affidavit of facts under order 39 rules 1 and 2 of the Court.

Counsel to Ado-Bayero, Mr Abdul Muhammed SAN, informed the court that they have an affidavit of fact dated July 3, 2024, attached with a notice of appeal and a motion of stay of proceedings.
He urged the court to stay of proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the motion at the appeal court.

NAN reports that Ado-Bayero’s counsel on July 4, withdrew their legal services before the court.
Counsel to the 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents, Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, moved his application for an extension of time dated July 2 and counter affidavit in response to the originating motion.

He urged the court to set aside the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) law 2024, adding that due process were not followed and urged the court to dismiss the applicant’s application with a cost of N1 billion.

Counsel to the Inspector/General of Police, Mr Sunday Ekwe, told the court that he had nothing to present.

NAN reports that the applicants, 3,4and 5th respondents moved their applications, for extension of time, notice of preliminary objection, setting aside exparte order, joinder application, examining deponent, application for the Judge to recuse herself and originating summon.

NAN reports that the State House of Assembly on May 23, dissolved all the four newly created Emirate council’s in the state and Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, reappointed Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano

The North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has issued a warning against the planned nationwide protests purportedly aimed at the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

During a press briefing in Jos, Plateau State, the forum’s Chairman, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, argued that such protests could disrupt the nation’s progress and urged the organizers to reconsider.

Zazzaga highlighted that the motives behind the protests appear to stem from selfish interests rather than genuine concern for national development.

He emphasized that the current administration under President Tinubu is making significant efforts to steer the country towards growth and stability, and such actions could serve as unnecessary distractions.

Furthermore, Zazzaga appealed to potential protesters to consider the security challenges in the North Central region and other parts of the North, which are already under strain.

He stressed that any form of unrest could exacerbate the situation, detracting from the government’s efforts to address these issues.

The APC leader called for unity and support for the government’s initiatives, suggesting that constructive dialogue is the preferable path forward rather than disruptive protests.

He warned that staging protests in the already volatile North Central could pose additional risks to the region’s security.

He said, “Therefore, any protest in the region can be highjacked by hoodlums to cause mayhem and threaten the lives and properties of law-abiding citizens.

“The issue of kidnappings, banditry and other criminal activities the region has been going through over the years is already overwhelming on the region, and it cannot afford to have another restiveness added to it.

“Besides, protests in parts of the region and the North often take an ethno-religious dimension, which also culminated in killings of one another between Christians and Muslims.

“An example of such a protest which often turns violent and takes an ethno-religious crisis, is that of the #EndSARS protest across the country, which took such dimension in Jos, the Plateau State capital, and we have to do a lot to tame it.

“I, alongside other eminent persons in Jos, went around calming the people down to stop the violence, and we ensured that Christians were protected in Muslim areas, and vice versa, and thereafter handed those protected from harm over to the police to unite them with their families safely.

“So, I call on all our members across the region to mobilise vigorously and campaign against any form of protest in the region, and I also urge the governors, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other eminent personalities and opinion leaders in the North Central region to call all their wards to order and advise them against participating in any form of protest due to the peculiar situation of our region.”