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Sule Abdulaziz, chief executive officer (CEO), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), says TCN is not to blame for all national grid collapses in the country.
In an interview with Channels TV’s ‘Sunday Politics’ on Sunday, Abdulaziz said system collapse could be caused by generation, transmission, and distribution issues.
“TCN is in charge of the grid but if there’s a system collapse, it doesn’t mean that all the problems are from TCN,” he said.
“It can be from generation, it can be from transmission, and it can be from distribution. And some of these also can come as a disaster. So if there is any system collapse, we have to make studies, find out what is the cause of this grid collapse.
“But you cannot say it is the fault of TCN, just like that. But TCN are the ones that are managing the grid.”
‘GRID COLLAPSED TWICE LAST WEEK, NOT THRICE’
On October 19, the national electricity grid collapsed for the third time within a week and the eighth time in 2024.
However, Abdulaziz said the grid disturbance occurred twice in the week.
“We have grid disturbances two times. The first one was on Monday and the second one was yesterday on Saturday,” the TCN CEO said.
“So there are some news that says that the grid collapsed again on Tuesday.
“That one is not correct. On Monday, we were trying to restore the grid, then we had some setback and that is when we had to start all over again, but it wasn’t a collapse.”
He said the commission is supposed to do better to avoid frequent collapses.
“But if you look at the records, the grid collapse has reduced from 2015. If you have all these records, you will see that from the year 2022, we spent over one and a half years, and there was no grid collapse. So we are doing our best,” he said.
“We know we have to do more, but at least we are getting to know the issues and we are resolving them one by one.”
‘TRANSMISSION SYSTEM NEEDS MASSIVE INVESTMENT’
According to Abdulaziz, the transmission system needs a lot of investment, adding that the sector was neglected for many years.
“So, most of the equipment we are using, some of them are even 50 years old, some 40 years old,” he said.
“So it is not possible for those equipment to work perfectly.”
Abdulaziz said investment should be continuous.
“Continuously, we build new substations, we buy spare parts and change some of the outdated,” he said.
“You see, it cannot be done once. It is bit by bit. And if you look at the TCN, most of the funds we are using is from internally generated revenue (IGR).
“There are some projects that are sponsored from the federal budget, but most of the maintenance is carried out by IGR.
“So what we do every year is that we schedule some maintenance, changing some of the old equipment.”
However, he said all grid infrastructure can not be upgraded at the same time.
On October 17, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the frequent system failure at the national grid is inevitable due to the outdated infrastructure.
Suffering Nigerians Are Going Through Is Too Much A Price To Pay For Reforms – Senator Tells Tinubu
AFOLABI
The Senator representing Edo South in the National Assembly, Neda Imasuen, has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the plight and sufferings of Nigerians.
The lawmaker who was elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), stated that the government is not playing its role in alleviating the suffering of the people.
Speaking on Sunday as a guest on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Senator Imasuen told President Tinubu that the suffering Nigerians are passing through due to the policies of his government, might be too much a price to pay for the reforms the government is pushing.
According to him, the twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows by the Tinubu government are ill-timed and wrongly implemented.
He lamented that several Nigerians are unable to afford a bag of rice, and the people should be given a breathing space.
The lawmaker said the legislature “Can only support them (the executive) and hope that their plan takes us to the destination”.
Imasuen added, “This is not the time to trade blame; it’s time to sit down and say, look, our people are suffering, how do we sort out the situation we have found ourselves?
“The steps that are being taken, I’m afraid that the suffering that Nigerians are going through right now is too much a price to pay for it.
“Now, this is a country that we don’t produce, we import, and we are devaluing our naira. I don’t see how that is going to help us. Everything is tied to the dollar, and the dollar keeps going up.
“Let’s develop our industries. These SMEs work a lot if we can strengthen small and medium enterprises and give the middle class breathing space to do what he has to do.
“On this question of subsidy, there is no country that does not subsidise, especially in the area of agriculture. Our farmers need access to funding and they need government intervention to produce the food that we need. Today, many cannot buy a bag of rice; it’s about N100,000.”
Naija News reports that following the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira by President Tinubu, many Nigerians have been battling for survival due to the soaring inflation and increasing prices of food and other commodities in the market.
The Lagos police command has released all protesters earlier arrested for marking the fourth anniversary of #EndSARS.
The protesters gathered at the Lekki tollgate area on Sunday for a memorial rally before they were resisted by armed police officers.
The police officers subsequently shot teargas canisters to disperse the protesters.
Defiantly, another group of activists arrived at the tollgate some moments later to continue the memorial walk.
The police officers, stationed at the tollgate, arrested about 20 of them, including Taiwo Soweto, one of the leaders of the #EndBadGovernance movement.
Hours later, Inibehe Effiong, human rights lawyer, said the release of all protesters has been facilitated.
“We have secured the release of all the 22 activists who were arrested this morning at the Lekki Toll Gate while commemorating the 4th anniversary of the Lekki massacre,” Effiong tweeted.
“We had a discussion with the commissioner of police who came over to the state CID in respect of the matter.”
Effiong said the items seized from the protesters were also returned to them.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that out-of-school children could end up becoming weapons for Boko Haram.
He stated that the menace provides a fertile ground for the recruitment of future Boko Haram insurgents.
Obasanjo gave the warning on Sunday in Bauchi, when he inaugurated the dualised seven-kilometre Awala-Mairuguri Road and 17.70-kilometre Awalah-Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa National Airport Road.
He also inaugurated the 30-kilometre Gubi-Ruda Bida-Siyi-Nasarawa Road.
Speaking during the ceremony, the former President noted that education and human capacity building are very essential in ensuring development and creation of a safer society.
He said, “World Bank says we have over 20 million out-of-school children, who should be in school but are not.
“For a population of about 220 to 230 million, that is 10 per cent of our population that should be in school that are not in school.
“Dear governor of Bauchi State, your Royal Highnesses present here, brothers and sisters, that is recruitment for future Boko Haram and nobody needs to tell us that.”
The former president added “Apart from the 10 per cent of our population not being equipped to develop their innate capacity to be able to serve themselves, their family and communities, we are also preparing them to be recruited in 10 years or 15 years time for whatever form of Boko Haram it would be that time.
“We are preparing them for whatever form of banditry and it will not be kidnapers in the usual sense of it by that time, they may be coming to homes and be snatchers of people from their homes. Think about it.”
Obasanjo called on leaders at all levels to put their hands together and find a lasting solution to the menace once and for all.
The Nigerian Army has officially retired 15 senior officers from its Artillery Corps, marking a significant transition within the ranks.
The retired personnel include 11 Major Generals and four Brigadier Generals, who have played crucial roles in providing heavy firepower support to frontline forces during their service.
The retirement ceremony took place at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kaduna State, where the contributions of the outgoing generals were acknowledged.
The Artillery Corps is known for its vital role in delivering artillery support in various military operations, enhancing the operational capabilities of the Army.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Nigerian Army celebrated the achievements of the retiring officers.
It read, “The Nigerian Army formally pulled out 15 retired generals from the Artillery Corps on Saturday, October 19, 2024, during a ceremony at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia, Kaduna State. The group of retirees included 11 Major Generals and 4 Brigadier Generals.”
Speaking on behalf of the retired officers during the pulling-out parade, Maj Gen James Myam (retd.) reflected on their long military careers, expressing fulfilment and gratitude.
“He attributed their success to divine grace, acknowledging God’s protection throughout their years of service. He also extended his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, wishing him continued strength and wisdom in his leadership of the NA.
“Looking back, Maj Gen Myam recalled the beginning of their military journeys when they reported to the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna as Officer Cadets.
“He offered advice to the officers still in service, urging them to remain loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government while maintaining vigilance and security consciousness.
“The retired general also expressed gratitude to the families, spouses, friends, instructors, and mentors who supported them throughout their careers. The event was attended by several senior retired and serving military officers, including former Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Alwali Kazir (retd),“ the statement added.
“Some Politicians Who Are No Better Than Criminals Have Compromised The Judiciary” – Bode George
AFOLABI
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has cried out on the need to restore the integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria.
According to George, some politicians have compromised the integrity of the judicial system, and there are allegations that some judges are even on the payroll of influential politicians.
He, therefore, called on the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to ensure the integrity and esteemed status of the judiciary is restored.
George made the call in a statement on Sunday “The Time to End Judicial Rascality is Now.”
The former military governor of Ondo State added that it is worrisome and embarrassing that courts in the country have frequently been giving conflicting rulings on the same matter, with the situation now becoming an embarrassment to Nigerians.
He cautioned that if left unchecked, these actions could destabilize the country’s democracy.
He said: “I congratulate you on your confirmation by the Senate and your swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. As a bonafide Lagosian and jurist from a family of legal luminaries, I strongly believe the judiciary will benefit from your wealth of knowledge. With you at the helm, I am hopeful the judiciary will reclaim the prominence it once had from the 1950s to the 1980s.”
Raising the alarm on what he described as “judicial rascality” emerging from courts, George noted the urgent need to curb the current trajectory and avoid “judicial anarchy.”
He explained: “Judicial decisions today are becoming embarrassing. We have instances where a court, miles away from the scene of political conflict, issues confusing rulings, leaving Nigerians bewildered. While appellate courts have the power to overturn lower court decisions, we are seeing a disturbing trend where lower courts, without jurisdiction, issue counter orders, creating judicial chaos.”
George advised the CJN to convene a National Judicial Council (NJC) meeting with state and federal judges to address these inconsistencies and restore public confidence in the judiciary.
He hoped for a return to the time in the 1950s to 1980s when the integrity of the judiciary was above board.
He singled out some past Chief Justices, including Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, Justice Teslim Elias, and Justice Kayode Eso, for resisting external pressures and maintaining the integrity of the judiciary during their times.
“From the 1950s to the 1980s, judges were revered and feared for their impartiality. It was unheard of to attempt bribing a judge. But today, some judges are openly accused of being on politicians’ payrolls,” he said.
The PDP chieftain, however, lamented that in many political cases since 1999, judges have been accused of delivering judgments that serve the interests of powerful individuals rather than justice.
He questioned the delivery of judgement based on “technicalities” that undermine the will of the people. He condemned the trend where just a few judges determine the final verdict in an election participated by millions of voters.
“How can three, five, or seven judges decide the outcome of elections for millions of Nigerians? What is the essence of voting if judges impose their will over the electorate’s choice?” he queried.
George stressed the need for the judiciary to be vigilant and avoid rulings that could undermine the democratic process, saying judicial officers wield such extensive powers.
“Judicial institutional strength is key to Nigeria’s development. Judges must resist pressure from politicians and remain impartial. They hold the power of life and death after God, and their judgments must reflect that responsibility,” George stated.
He urged the CJN to take urgent action to restore the credibility of the judiciary, and save Nigeria from politicians who are bent on compromising the judiciary for their own selfish interests.
“Today, some politicians who are no better than criminals have compromised the judiciary. This is dangerous for our electoral system and for the future of Nigeria. The time to end judicial rascality is now,” George concluded.
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my devoted Special Assistant, Mr. Ndifreke Saviour Mark, who was with me for no less than 34 years.
He left home at 5.40am on the morning of Sunday 13th October for morning Mass as he was a devoted Catholic and member of the Catholic Church of Assumption, Asokoro after which he went to a hotel by the name of Mildy Lodge and Apartments in Garki, Abuja.
According to the police he took a room at the hotel and spent some time there with an individual after which he apparently slumped and died in that individual's presence.
He was taken to Asokoro District Hospital, was pronounced dead upon arrival and has since been put in the hospital morgue.
The individual he was with at the time of his death in the hotel is now in police custody and I have insisted on a full criminal investigation of the matter and an autopsy.
The hotel receptionist has also been detained by the police whilst both the manager and the owner of the hotel were invited for questioning earlier this week.
The entire hotel was also sealed up by the police for two days and the room in which he lodged remains sealed till today.
I have broken the sad news to his family, I have met with his wife Barrister Patience Ndifreke-Mark and his Uncle, Mr. Clement Mathias, (who represented his family) and I have also told them of my intention to ensure that, if indeed there is any foul play, justice is done and those behind it are brought to book.
Mark was like a son to me and his passing is a huge blow to me and my entire family.
We shared many dreams and aspirations and fought many battles together shoulder to shoulder.
Now he has gone it has left much pain but I give thanks to God for his life and for the 52 years that he spent on earth.
I have assured his wife and family of my intention to stand by them at this difficult time and to ensure that they do not lack or want for anything.
I have absolute confidence in the FCT Police Command to get to the bottom of this matter after which we can proceed to bury a man that was my most loyal staff and most trusted aide.
Most important of all is the fact that he was a kind, reliable and compassionate soul who brought joy to many and who was incapable of hurting a fly.
I will never forget him and though he has passed he lives on in our hearts.
I thank all those that have found the time to come and mourn with us at this difficult time.
May Ndifreke's precious soul rest in peace and may the Lord comfort his wife and two beautiful young children.
(FFK)
Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force on Sunday reportedly fired shots and deployed tear gas to forcibly disperse protesters gathered at the Lekki Tollgate, in Lagos State.
Naija News reports that the demonstrators had assembled to commemorate those who lost their lives during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
According to eyewitness accounts, the peaceful procession was interrupted when police officers began shooting into the air and deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Many protesters fled the scene, while at least two individuals were arrested.
A source who spoke to SaharaReporters confirmed the arrests, though the identities of those detained remain unknown.
As of now, the police have not released an official statement addressing the incident or the use of force during the memorial gathering.
Recall that the Lekki Tollgate is the site of the tragic shooting on October 20, 2020, when security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters.
Thousands of youths, in October 2020, gathered in major cities across the country to protest against the constant harassment, killings, and extortion by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian police.
The protest culminated at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where several youths were reportedly killed and many others severely injured following the intervention of the Nigerian military.
In the aftermath of the protests, judicial panels were established across various states to assess and review the protesters’ demands.
However, almost four years later, protest leaders have expressed deep regret that many of the panels’ recommendations remain unimplemented.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has alleged that the camp of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, is fighting him because he refused to join forces with them during the elections.
Naija News reports that Wike spoke during a private luncheon with stakeholders in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, on Saturday.
The Minister hosted the luncheon in honour of the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly.
The former governor of Rivers State said he refused to support Peter Obi for the 2023 presidential election despite being lobbied so much for support.
Wike said he turned down the lobbyist because Obi would not win the election.
He added that some persons in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who want the party’s presidential ticket in 2027 are also ganging up against him.
Wike boasted that his political enemies would not emerge victorious.
He said, “Peter Obi’s group lobbied me so much. They cannot deny it. And I said ‘look, this one won’t fly.’ ‘Rivers State will not vote for where it’s not going to fly’. There’s also a gang up and I say, ‘look, enough is enough.’ They want to fight us back. They’re fighting themselves.
“There is another gang-up within the PDP who wants to be president and they say, ‘look if we don’t do anything now we have a problem’. I can assure you they will have a problem.
“There is another APC — very prominent. All these people combined, they will lose.”
In a record-breaking deportation flight, 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians were forcibly removed from the UK on Friday, marking a significant surge in immigration enforcement.
According to The Guardian.com/uk The Home Office confirmed the action as part of a broader crackdown on immigration, which has seen the deportation of over 3,600 people since the Labour government came to power in July.
This comes as news emerges that asylum seekers arriving at Diego Garcia, a UK-administered island, before the finalization of a treaty between the UK and Mauritius will be relocated to Saint Helena, a British territory in the Atlantic.
The Chagos Islands treaty, expected to be signed next year, will not apply to around 60 Tamils who have been stranded on Diego Garcia since 2021 and are pursuing legal action over their detention.
While the number of asylum seekers arriving at Diego Garcia has been in the hundreds, it pales in comparison to the tens of thousands who have crossed the English Channel in small boats from northern France in recent years. Just on Friday, 647 individuals made the perilous crossing in 10 boats, pushing the total for the year beyond 28,000.
Deportation flights to Nigeria and Ghana have been relatively rare, with only four recorded since 2020, and prior flights carrying significantly fewer individuals—ranging from six to 21 people. The recent flight, which saw 44 deportees, more than doubled the numbers seen in previous removals.
The Guardian interviewed four Nigerian men held at Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick before their deportation. One of them, who had been in the UK for 15 years seeking asylum, expressed his distress: “I have no criminal record, but the Home Office has refused my claim.” Another man revealed he had been a victim of trafficking and bore torture scars, yet his asylum claim had also been rejected.
Fizza Qureshi, the chief executive of Migrants’ Rights Network, condemned the deportations, citing the speed, secrecy, and lack of legal support. She quoted a detainee who said, “The Home Office is playing politics with people’s lives. We have not done anything wrong other than cry for help.”
A Home Office spokesperson defended the move, stating that the government is committed to enforcing immigration rules and ensuring that people without legal rights to remain in the UK are returned.
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In a world where success is often measured by wealth, the richest Black people stand out as remarkable figures.
These individuals are pioneers in diverse fields, from business to entertainment, and their achievements not only shatter barriers but also pave the way for others to follow.
Take a look at the top 10 richest Black people in the world:
David Steward $11.4 billion USA
David Lloyd Steward, born in 1951, is an American billionaire entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of World Wide Technology (WWT), which is among the largest African-American-owned companies in the United States. In 2024, Steward was ranked 344th on Forbes’ list of billionaires globally, with an estimated net worth of $11.4 billion.
Aliko Dangote ($11.3 billion)
Aliko Dangote, born on April 10, 1957, is one of the richest Black people in the world. A prominent Nigerian businessman and industrialist, he is notably the first person to build a private oil refinery in Nigeria. As of October 2024, Forbes ranks him as the 211th richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $11.2 billion. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his wealth is estimated at $27.7 billion.
Robert F. Smith ($10.8 billion)
Robert Frederick Smith, born on December 1, 1962, is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm. Smith earned a chemical engineering degree from Cornell University and later an MBA from Columbia Business School. Before founding his company, he worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. In 2019, during a commencement speech at Morehouse College, Smith made headlines when he pledged to cover the entire $34 million in student loan debt for the graduating class of 2019.
Mike Adenuga ($6.6 billion)
Mike Adenuga, Nigeria’s second wealthiest person, amassed his fortune through telecommunications and oil ventures. His mobile network company, Globacom, is the second-largest in Nigeria, boasting over 60 million subscribers. In addition to telecommunications, Adenuga’s oil company, Conoil Producing, operates six oil blocks in the Niger Delta.
Globacom also established Glo-1, a 6,100-mile submarine internet cable linking the U.K. with Ghana and Portugal. Adenuga holds a 74% stake in publicly traded Conoil and owns just under 6% of Nigerian bank Sterling Financial Holding.
Abdulsamad Rabiu ($ 4.7 billion)
One of the richest Black people in the world, Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu is a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. As of 2024, he ranks as Nigeria’s third richest man. His father, Khalifah Isyaku Rabiu, was one of Nigeria’s leading industrialists in the 1970s and 1980s. Abdul Samad is the founder and chairman of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate focused on manufacturing, infrastructure, and agriculture, generating over $2.5 billion in revenue. He also serves as the chairman of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI).
In July 2020, Forbes valued his net worth at $3.2 billion, placing him 716th among the world’s billionaires. By January 2022, he was recognised as Nigeria’s second richest person. In April 2022, he ranked as the fifth-richest person in Africa with a fortune of $6.7 billion, and by January 2023, he climbed to fourth on the continent’s wealthiest list.
Michael Jordan ($3.5 billion)
Widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. Throughout his career, his total salary amounted to $90 million, but his earnings from partnerships with brands like Nike, Hanes, and Gatorade have reached an astounding $2.4 billion (before taxes). In 2020, Jordan became a special advisor and investor for the sports-betting company DraftKings and also co-owned a NASCAR team. In 2023, he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that valued the NBA team at $3 billion.
Oprah Winfrey ($3 billion)
Oprah Winfrey turned her 25-year-long talk show into a powerful media and business empire. The profits from her show, combined with earnings from films like ‘The Color Purple’, ‘Beloved’, and ‘Selma’—which were co-produced by her company, Harpo Productions—have brought her wealth to an estimated $2.5 billion.
In 2011, she launched the OWN cable channel and later sold most of her shares in it to Warner Bros. Discovery in 2020, receiving company stock in return.
In 2015, Winfrey purchased a 10% stake in WeightWatchers, and in 2024, she generously donated her shares to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Winfrey also owns an extensive real estate portfolio, including homes in California and more than a dozen properties, along with 2,100 acres of land in Hawaii.
Patrice Motsepe ($3 billion)
Patrice Motsepe, founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, became a billionaire in 2008, making history as the first Black African to appear on the Forbes billionaire list. In 2016, he established African Rainbow Capital, a private equity firm focused on investments across Africa. Motsepe also holds a stake in Sanlam, a publicly traded financial services company, and is the owner and president of the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club.
In March 2021, he was elected president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the governing body for soccer on the continent. His business journey began in 1994 when he became the first Black partner at Johannesburg law firm Bowman Gilfillan, later launching a mining services company. In 1997, Motsepe acquired underperforming gold mine shafts, which he successfully turned around
Jay-Z ($2.5 billion)
Since becoming hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019, Jay-Z has significantly increased his wealth, largely due to his successful liquor ventures. In 2021, luxury conglomerate LVMH acquired a 50% stake in his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, also known as Ace of Spades. In February 2023, he sold a majority of his ownership in his cognac brand, D’Usse, to Bacardi.
Beyond liquor, Jay-Z’s wealth includes assets like an art collection featuring works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, his extensive music catalog, and stakes in companies such as Block and Uber. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2022, he won an Emmy for producing the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Strive Masiyiwa ($1.8 billion)
Strive Masiyiwa faced huge government resistance when he launched the mobile phone network Econet Wireless Zimbabwe in his home country in 1998. He holds a 38% stake in the publicly traded Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, which is part of his larger Econet Group, as well as about 33% of EcoCash, a mobile money transfer company.
Masiyiwa also has an investment in Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a private firm that offers fiber optic and cloud services to telecom companies throughout Africa. His portfolio includes investments in fintech and power distribution companies across the continent, along with stock options in Netflix, where he has been a board member since December 2020. He and his wife, Tsitsi, founded the Higherlife Foundation, which assists orphaned and underprivileged children in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Burundi, and Lesotho.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos have arrested two businessmen for attempting to import and export cocaine pellets and parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis through the airport.
The businessmen: Ihejirika Okechukwu Emmanuel and Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory were arrested as well as a Canada-based nurse Usman Grace Khadijat Olami.
Spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said, “Ihejirika who frequents Thailand from where he claims to be importing fish into Nigeria was arrested on Tuesday 15th October 2024 while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Thailand via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“When he was taken for body scan, the result showed he ingested an illicit drug which proved to be cocaine.
“As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled five big egg size wraps of cocaine weighing 400 grams.
In his statement, the 51-year-old suspect confessed that he was to be paid upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Thailand.
He said he needed the money to boost his fish importation business.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport on Thursday 17th October intercepted a 26-year-old businessman Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory coming from Brazil via Addis Ababa during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight.
His body scan revealed ingestion of illicit drugs. When he was put under observation, he excreted a pellet of cocaine weighing 22 grams.
He however confessed that he ingested 30 wraps of the illicit drug in Brazil but excreted 29 pellets in Addis Ababa, where he handed them over to another person.
The suspect revealed that he was to be paid N2.5 million for trafficking the drug.
Also, a Nigerian-Canadian nurse Usman Grace Khadijat Olami was on 4th October arrested by NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport during the inward clearance of Air France passengers from Toronto, Canada via Paris.
During a search of her luggage, a total of 70 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing 35.70kg were recovered from her.
During her interview, she claimed she was in Nigeria to meet her boyfriend who instructed her to come with the large consignment of the highly sought-after synthetic cannabis.
NDLEA further said, “At the seaports, a total of 162,351 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted from two containers at the Apapa seaport in Lagos by NDLEA operatives during a joint examination of two containers with men of the Customs Service and other security agencies on Tuesday 15th October.
“Not less than Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand (7,200,000) pills of Royal 225mg Tapentadol and Carisoprodol worth Three Billion Six Hundred Million Naira (N3,600,000,000) in street value were seized from a watch-listed container from India at Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state on Tuesday 15th October.
“In the same container, 780 cartons of chlorphenamine containing Fifteen Million Six Hundred Thousand (15,600,000) pills of the opioid, were also recovered.
“From two other watch-listed containers equally searched at the port in Onne, a total of 337,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth Two Billion Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million Naira (N2,359,000,000) were recovered from them on Tuesday 15th and Thursday 17th October.
“This brings the total value of the seized Tapentadol, Carisoprodol and Codeine consignments at the two seaports to Seven Billion Ninety-Five Million Four Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand Naira (N7,095,457,000)”.
In Bauchi state, a suspect Sunday Jonathan Ogenyi, 33, was arrested along Bauchi-Jos road with 76,600 pills of tramadol concealed in false compartments of his Toyota Sienna vehicle marked Enugu JRV 341 ZY.
NDLEA operatives in Ondo state on Tuesday 15th October arrested three suspects: Goddey Obizuo; Samuel Aniete; and Kuffrey Aniete at Afo village where 672kg cannabis sativa was seized from them.
A raid at Illushi forest in Esan South East LGA, Edo state led to the destruction of 10,590.36kg cannabis spread on 4.236144 hectares of farmland.
Suspects arrested during the operation include: Benson Upuoni, 65; and Sunday Nwaeboyi, 35.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 15th October arrested Andrew Joseph Anoriode with 3kg methamphetamine and 1.90kg cannabis along Lagos – Ibadan expressway while 241kg of same substance was recovered at Gbaji, Badagry area of the state.
A suspected meth cook, Agbeiboh Oscar, was nabbed same Tuesday at Abule Osun with 265 grams of methamphetamine and different quantities of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine and others.
With the same vigour, Commands, and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ansarudeen Senior High School, Saki, Oyo State; Government Secondary School, Hayin Gwarmai, Bebeji LGA, kano; Margaret Ekpo Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Agbaju Unuhu Community Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; and WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammad Kawu Kudu, Kwara state, among others.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Apapa, Lagos, Bauchi, Ondo, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures,
He stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has revealed that, despite working alongside many handsome actors throughout her career, she has never felt any romantic attraction towards them.
Akintola shared her perspective during a recent appearance on the NollywoodHardCore show.
“I have never been attracted to an actor. All of you are my brothers; no be my brother na him you be?” she stated, emphasizing her professional mindset when on set. “I just wasn’t attracted to people in the workplace. My frame of mind when I come to work is the frame of mind of an actor who is being professional. So I don’t see you people as ‘dateable’ individuals. We have some really handsome men as actors, but I have never thought of dating any of them. Honestly, in truthfulness.”
In addition to discussing her lack of romantic interest in her male colleagues, Akintola reflected on the challenges she faced when she first entered the industry. She expressed her dismay at the sensationalist media coverage she endured early in her career.
“When I started out, there was a lot of controversy and all sorts of things written about me,” she recalled. “Horrible stuff. There were even rumors saying I don’t wear underwear. News like that flies; it sells. You have more traction from things like that. You have more people buying the papers if it’s papers. People want to read about funny things like that. It’s a little better now, but back then, they just used to cook up stories. I once read a story about myself claiming I was at a hotel off Toyin Street with a Sheikh.”
Akintola’s candid remarks shed light on her commitment to professionalism in an industry often plagued by rumors and sensationalism
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu and his government “to stop the ‘weaponization’ of the country’s security agencies to target Nigerians simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights, and to direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately withdraw the baseless defamation lawsuit by their proxies against our organization and management staff.”
Two named DSS officials last week filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, following allegations by the organization regarding the recent invasion of its Abuja office by some officials of the security agency.
In the open letter dated 19 October 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We are seriously concerned that your government seems to be weaponizing the DSS and misusing defamation laws as a tool of repression and to target those who defend human rights.”
SERAP said, “Rather than addressing the allegations of widespread corruption in the oil sector and the worsening economic situation in the country, and reducing the cost of governance, your government is targeting those who campaign for actions in these areas.”
The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken following the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”
“If the lawsuit is not immediately withdrawn, we will be prepared to defend our organization and management staff in court, and to join your government and DSS in the lawsuit. This may include calling witnesses to ensure justice, end impunity for rights abuses, and achieve legitimate public interests in this matter.”
“We have since 2004 pursued several public interest cases against the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. This is the first time any government will weaponize the country’s security agencies to intimidate and target our organization.”
“The defamation lawsuit is brought by two named DSS officials but their names are unknown to our organization. The lawsuit by these officials is apparently instigated and sponsored by the DSS under your watch.”
“It is critical for human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other citizens to be able to organize and freely exercise their human rights without the threat of baseless lawsuits by your government or its security agencies and/or their proxies.”
“Weaponizing the security agencies to intimidate, harass and silence human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors will weaken representative democracy, deepen impunity and undermine the rule of law.”
“Rather misusing the security agencies to crackdown on human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors, your government ought to take steps to thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate the allegations raised by SERAP.”
“We are disappointed that your government has so far failed to respond to our recommendations calling on you to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol across its retail outlets.”
“Your government has also failed to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury and to prosecute suspected perpetrators.”
“Your government also continues to refuse to obey several court judgments obtained by SERAP, including those which ordered the Federal Government to disclose the details of the agreement with X, formerly Twitter, to assess whether the agreement complies with the exercise of Nigerians’ human rights online and to account for payments of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.”
“SERAP had on 9 September 2024 also called on you and your government to direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of our organization and our staff members.”
“Our call followed the invasion of our Abuja office by some officials of the DSS. SERAP was subsequently served with a defamation lawsuit with number CV/4547/24.”
“The country under your government has witnessed an escalating crackdown on human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, as well as socio-economic rights.”
“The judicial harassment of those who peacefully defend human rights is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“Under your government, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors such as the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) continue to face harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary detention simply for carrying out their legitimate work.”
“The judicial harassment of SERAP by your government and its agencies shows hostility towards civil society actors defending the rights of other citizens, criticizing human rights violations, and challenging a culture of impunity for perpetrators.”
“SERAP therefore urges your government to end the intimidation, harassment and threats against our organization and management staff and other human rights defenders, activists as well as journalists and other civil society actors, including intimidation, through baseless legal processes.”
“SERAP strives to ensure that our human rights and anticorruption work meet the highest standards of analytical rigor devoid of politics. Our work is driven solely by the fundamental principles of justice, impartiality, solidarity and universality of human rights. SERAP believes that no government is beyond scrutiny and accountability.”
“SERAP’s non-partisan work in the field of human rights and anticorruption has been widely recognized nationally and internationally. Our organization received the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award in 2014, and was nominated for the UN Civil Society Award and Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award. SERAP was also nominated for the 2024 Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prizes.”
“Our organization’s calls on your government regarding the persistent increases in fuel prices and allegations of corruption in the NNPC are based on the constitutional and international responsibilities of your government to Nigerians who are victims of corruption, and your constitutional oath of office.”
“SERAP believes that it is through action like this that any government in a society governed by the rule of law can be motivated to live up to its commitments and to meet the expectations of its citizens for good governance, human rights and the rule of law.”
“SERAP urges your government to embrace the rule of law and this will in turn entail respect for the human rights of Nigerians. Where there is a culture of rule of law, there is likely to be less corruption.”
“Without embracing the rule of law, your government is unlikely to achieve your oft-repeated economic and development programmes since the rule of law is the foundation of any civilised society.”