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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday grilled controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, over his claim that he bribed some officials of the commission with the sum of N15m.
Bobrisky was heard in a viral audio released by activist, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, claiming that some yet-to-be-identified EFCC officials collected the said amount (N15m) from him to drop the money laundering charges against him (Bobrisky).
A source in the anti-graft commission disclosed that Bobrisky’s interrogation began immediately after he was moved to Abuja.
“He was interrogated for hours upon his arrival here. He is still with us as I speak (8:30pm),” the source in the commission added.
The anti-graft body had earlier disclosed that the cross-dresser was flown to Abuja over his failure to honour its invitations.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this on Friday morning, adding that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if his allegations against the anti-corruption agency were false.
“Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,” Oyewale added.
Okuneye’s invitation by the commission reportedly followed a voice recording shared by controversial social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
However, the EFCC denied the allegation, stating that the case was legally dismissed and set up a panel to investigate the matter further.
On Thursday night, Bobrisky, while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom, was removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The popular cross-dresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers.
According to sources in the commission, Bobrisky did not honour invitations by the commission for him to substantiate his claims, hence the reason for his arrest.
However, a top source in the commission said on Friday that Bobrisky was picked up to prove his allegations against the EFCC.
The source said, “We have arrested him in Lagos and will be flown to Abuja today. He accused us of bribery and corruption; we invited him severally, but he did not show up. He who alleges must be ready to prove. Those allegations are too weighty to allow slide.
“Also, remember that he has also refused to show up at the National Assembly on the matter. We are left with no other choice than to pick him up so that he can substantiate his claims. And that is what we have done. “
Another source said he had been on the watch list of the commission and other security agencies hence it was impossible for him to escape out of the country.
The source said, “He should know that he cannot sneak out of the country when he has made that kind of allegations against not only our commission but others. He should know we would get him and that it was a matter of time.”
At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.
Meanwhile, the EFCC’s spokesperson stated that Bobrisky failed to respond to multiple summonses from both the commission and the House of Representatives concerning his claims of having paid an N15m bribe to the EFCC to dismiss money laundering charges against him.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Oyewale said, “Those that are accusing the EFCC of arresting Bobrisky are not aware of the developments concerning his matter. He alleged that he bribed EFCC officers.
“It is public knowledge that he made that allegation and we have invited him to come and unravel whoever is involved in the matter. He was also invited by the House of Representatives committee for the public hearing. He neither responded to us nor made himself available to the House of Reps.
“We arrested him because he did not honour our invitation. Once he tells us who collected money from him, we will release him.”
Addressing the timing of Bobrisky’s arrest, which occurred when he was already aboard a London-bound plane, Oyewale simply said, “A suspect can be arrested anywhere.”
Motunrayo ‘Iwalewa’ Charles, a daughter of the recently deceased veteran actor, Abdulsalam Sanyaolu, popularly known as Charles Olumo and Agbako, has said that she had to abandon her acting career to take care of her father in his old age.
Agbako died on Thursday, October 31, at the age of 101 at his Oniboku residence in Atan-Ota, Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State, and was buried on the same day in accordance with Islamic rites.
Speaking on what she wants the government to do for the late actor’s family, Iwalewa told Saturday Beats, “The government should do whatever it deems fit for the family. But, they should understand that the person who took care of the old man, just like I did, won’t be able to do any other thing. I am also an actor but I did not go to any location for four years, because I had to take care of him. So, the family should be taken care of, and the person who cared for baba should also be well treated.”
Recounting the late actor’s last moments, Iwalewa stated that contrary to some reports, Agbako died at home and not on a movie set. She said, “He died in my arms. After I bathed him, I put him on a chair and brushed his teeth. I then gave him water to rinse his mouth and he went quiet. I took him to the bed, gave him the tea I prepared but it spilt as I was trying to feed him. I had never experienced anything like that (a person’s death) before. Then, I called for help. People are saying he died on set, but he died on his bed in my arms.”
On whether he had any premonition of his death or did anything in his last days that indicated that, she said, “He did not say anything. He was just sick briefly and passed on.”
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Speaking on further plans to commemorate Agbako’s death, she stated, “The funeral rites will be concluded on the seventh day. The ceremony will be held at the same place he celebrated his 100th birthday in the Iju-Atan area of Ogun State.”
She also noted that the late Agbako’s colleagues in the film industry had plans to celebrate him, she said, “We (family members) just had a meeting (Thursday night) and they said we should let them know when we are done with it. I believe they plan to do something. They should do whatever they can to help, so I won’t regret helping my father.”
Even though many people perceived her father as a dangerous man because of the roles he played in movies, Iwalewa said, “My father was not a tough man. The fact that someone acts as a witch in a movie does not mean the person is a witch in real life. Some people think my father was wicked but he was not.
“Sometimes, when he wanted to board public transport, he would go in last, because if he entered early, some people might not want to board the bus. Whenever he entered the bus, some of the passengers would even start to fret. However, he was only doing his job acting as a bad man in movies, and he did it well because he was a true actor. That action was in him till his last moments as he still used to go to movie locations. At times, he would just go there to be in the company of other actors. You know that when actors are on set, they are usually happy and
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, on Friday, warned critics against distorting the narrative of the crisis rocking the state, insisting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the investment of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Okocha disclosed this during a media parley with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Okocha who served as the Chief of Staff to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi from 2007 to 2015, stated that he feels embarrassed every time he listens to a radio analysis and hears the presenters dishing out a biased narrative.
He said, “I can tell you that the conversations going on around the state are skewed. They need to hear our side of the story. Some people are blaming us at the APC and even bringing in the FCT Minister for the crisis in Rivers. They are holding us in scorn. Naturally, I know what anybody will say is that he (Wike) has done eight years; why is he not allowing someone else to run his own? But that is not the narrative.
“Nobody makes an investment and throws it away; the business will fail. Governor Fubara is Wike’s political investment. I must have said this many times. This is because he lifted him from ground zero and put him where he is today. Fubara was never a politician; he was a civil servant.
“He was taken from a state of relative obscurity in his Local Government to a political crescendo, which is the position of governor in a state like Rivers. So, it is not a case of Wike suffocating anybody in Rivers; it is just a case of Governor Sim Fubara versus the same Governor Sim Fubara. He is the governor. In Ikwerre’s parlance, there is an adage that says ‘You are the man that holds the yam and the knife.'”
Continuing, Okocha also blamed the governor for spurning the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the court order directing him to re-present the 2024 budget before the Martins Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly.
He said that rather than following the agreed resolution, Fubara allowed his loyalists to go loose by threatening and attempting to blackmail the president.
“There was an intervention by Mr President through an eight-point agenda. The president said the governor was wrong by presenting the budget to a four-member assembly over and above 27 others, and that he should go back and re-present it. Fubara accepted and told Mr President that being the first time he was meeting with him, whatever he said pertaining to Rivers, he would abide by.
“He also made a request, and the president asked him to state it. The request was that those who worked with him from his side should not be vilified or punished. The president assured him that nothing of the sort would happen, as the meeting was for reconciliation. After that, all manner of narratives arose. Some said he signed under duress; others claimed he was ambushed. The fifth columnists were also on the prowl for pecuniary interests.
“But did he implement the decision of Mr President and the judgment of the court to re-present the budget to the House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule? Now, some people are going about trying to skew the narrative that those who got the recent judgment are enemies of Rivers. But is it right for the governor to run a state without a budget? It is even dangerous for us as a state because you don’t have a limit for spending,” he warned.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, on Friday said the Federal Government is working to minimise fake condoms and other items in the Nigerian market.
He stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“There are things that should not be in our system that actors may find ways to compromise and those are the minority,” he said.
“Over the years, we have seen a reduction in those kinds of things making it. Somebody may hide in their room, create something that is substandard and get it into the market. That is what we are trying to the barest minimum.”
NAFDAC Raises Alarm
The minister’s assurance comes after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm on the circulation of an unregistered condom called Foula condoms.
NAFDAC in a statement on Thursday said the product, which is usually packed in 3s, was discovered in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital and in Zango, Kastina State.
NAFDAC said the discovery was made by the officials of the post-marketing Surveillance Directorate (PMS) while carrying out a Risk-Based Post Marketing Surveillance study on registered condoms in Nigeria.
“The condom is not registered by NAFDAC for use in Nigeria, and the labelling of the product is not in the English Language,” the statement read.
“Condoms are a proven effective barrier method that can be used as a dual-purpose method for both prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. To be most effective, any barrier method used for contraception or preventing infection must be used correctly.”
It stated that the illegal distribution or sale of unregistered condoms poses a risk as the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.
“The purchase and use of poor-quality condoms will adversely affect every aspect of condom promotion for the prevention of unintended pregnancy, and protection against HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections. If condoms leak or break, they cannot offer adequate protection,” NAFDAC stated.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the case of the #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned in the Federal High Court Abuja on Friday.
The protesters, 75 in number between the ages of 12 and 15, were charged with 10 counts of terrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and alleged mutiny over their participation in the nationwide protest.
Their arraignment has since generated backlash at the Federal Government from civil society organisations and oppositions leaders, who condemned the detention and prosecution of minors. They asked the government to quickly look into the matter and resolve it.
In a statement on Friday night, the AGF admitted that he is aware of the case but said there are some issues his office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable him take an informed decision.
He said that it is not within his power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. He, however, noted that he has directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to his office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) on Saturday.
The statemet reads, “It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.
“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.
“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.
“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January. I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.
“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date).”
Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to 67 of the 76 protesters that were arraigned to the tune of N10m each.
Those granted bail, who are below 15 years, are expected to present one surety who must be a civil servant.
The protesters who are mainly minors, looked malnourished as four of them were hurriedly rushed out of the courtroom as they couldn’t stand on their feet.
Looking very sickly, they wriggled in pain on the floor of the courtroom.
All seventy-six of them were arrested and detained during the August 1 to 10, nationwide protest in the country which was sparked by widespread economic hardship that led many Nigerians to take to the streets to express their grievances.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), has condemned the detention and prosecution of minors involved in the EndBadGovernance protest in the nation.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the senator described the detention as inhumane and unjust, urging the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the detention of the teenagers.
He also urged the NJC to examine the actions of the presiding judge in their case.
The minors were brought before an Abuja Federal High Court, where Justice Obiora Egwuatu presided on Friday.
Justice Egwuatu granted bail of ₦10 million to 72 defendants, including the “malnourished minors,” in connection with their alleged involvement in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
He also mandated that each defendant secure two sureties in the same amount.
It is important to note that a significant number of Nigerians participated in protests against “bad governance” during the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which commenced on August 1 and concluded on August 10, 2024.
However, many of the demonstrators, including minors, were subsequently arrested for their participation in the protests.
But Senator Musa said, “I strongly condemn the unjust detention of minors following the #EndBadGovernance protests. It is deeply troubling that despite the hardships and challenges these young children have endured, there is a push to have them imprisoned rather than afforded compassion and understanding.
“Such actions are not only inhumane but also unjust. I also condemn the judicial stance advocating for the continued detention of these minors, which is entirely unacceptable and contrary to the principles of justice and fairness.
“I call upon the Inspector General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into this matter to ensure accountability and protect the rights of these young citizens.
This issue must be addressed urgently, and I will continue to stand with my constituents and all Nigerians in the pursuit of justice and good governance.”
Nigerians have expressed outrage over the arraignment of 76 suspects, including 32 minors, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
Civil society groups and rights activists slammed the police and the government over the matter.
The defendants, who have been in detention for three months, were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja); as well as Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.
They were arraigned by the Inspector General of Police on 10 counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.
The nationwide protest against economic hardship and poor governance happened from August 1 to 10, with demonstrators calling for reduced governance costs, the reinstatement of petrol subsidy, food security, and greater fiscal discipline.
The protest turned violent in some states, leading to incidents of looting and vandalism.
Among the 76 defendants arraigned on Friday, 32 of them were minors between the ages of 14 and 17.
The minors, who looked unkempt and malnourished, were seen scrambling for water and biscuits in video clips that went viral on social media on Friday.
As proceedings commenced, the visibly unwell children were called to the dock to enter their pleas.
But in a sudden turn of events, four of the children suddenly collapsed and were rushed out of the courtroom, forcing the presiding judge to suspend the session until order was restored.
The minors wriggled in pain and made a screeching sound on the floor as both lawyers and prison officials hurriedly carried them up, holding their hands and legs. They were then taken out of the courtroom, as they couldn’t stand on their feet.
Watching with a bewildered look of pity and irritation, Justice Egwuatu abruptly rose and went into his chambers.
Upon his return, the prosecution counsel, Audu Garba, told the court that the matter was for arraignment.
He said, “My Lord the matter is fixed for arraignment. Some of the defendants are outside due to lack of space in the courtroom to accommodate all of them.”
The judge, however, insisted that space should be created for all of them, as he wanted all defendants inside the courtroom.
The prosecution proceeded to ask the court to strike out the names of the sick defendants and discharge them pending when they get well to be brought back to the court to answer to their charges.
The defense counsel, Marshall Abubakar, however, asked the court to discharge and acquit them.
He said, “The application is on the fact that the defendants are sick and malnourished. These boys are hungry and have not been fed for three days.”
The prosecution, however, objected to the defence counsel’s submission, insisting that the defendants, who had been detained since August when they were arrested, were well catered for in the police cell where they had been kept.
He, however, asked the court to grant the defendants bail.
The court, on the submission of the prosecution, discharged the four sick defendants – Umar Yunusa, Usman Suraju, Musa Isiyaku and Abdul Ganiu – pending when they get well.
The court, however, refused to acquit them.
Justice Egwuatu declared that until they meet their bail terms, defendants who are 18 years and above should be remanded in the Kuje Custodial Centre while the minors (18 years and below) be remanded in the Borstal Centre in Gwagwalada.
Nigerians condemned the undue detention and arraignment of the defendants, describing them as a violation of human rights and an indication of the government’s approach to civil dissent.
The charges brought against them read in part, “That between July 31, 2024, and August 4, 2024, at the Abuja FCT and Kano Metropolis, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony to wit: treason.”
Count two, “That within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria conspired together to commit felony to wit: inciting to mutiny, thereby committing an offence.
Count three, “That between July 31, 2024 and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British citizen, with intent to destabilise Nigeria, levies war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the president, by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Kano, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004”.
The FG also accused them of having the plan to destabilise Nigeria by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and by chanting, ‘Tinubu most go,’ ‘It is military we want’, while rioting and disturbing public peace.
Justice Egwuatu, however, granted the protesters bail in the total sum of N760m with two sureties in like sum.
The judge further held that one of the sureties must be a level 15 civil servant and the other a parent to the defendants.
He also ordered that the sureties make available to the court a means of identification, letter of last promotion, letter of appointment, means of Identification and a verified address.
Justice Egwuatu said, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties in like sum.
NBA, SANs decry rights abuse
Reacting, the Nigerian Bar Association said subjecting minors to such treatment not only violates domestic and international legal protections, but also paints Nigeria in a negative light on the global stage.
The National President of the NBA, Afam Osigwe, who stated this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said the inhumane treatment of the minors constituted a grave violation of their fundamental human rights.
Osigwe said, “This does not make us look good at all. It makes the credence of our correctional facilities and our pre-trial detention condition questionable and deplorable and portrays a negative image of us in the international community.
“Every effort must be made, either to release them (suspects) immediately on account of their long period of incarceration and be reunited with their families or if the Federal Government insists on trying them, they should be returned to the places where they were arrested, so that they will be close to their families and their families will be able to arrange for legal services for them and also be close to them and be able to follow the trial.
“It does not speak good of our criminal justice system that such children looking malnourished are being charged, showing that we have treated them poorly before their trial in court.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Isiaka Olagunju, condemned the arraignment.
He said the law permits children to be arraigned in a family court rather than a Federal High Court, adding that justice administration was clearly stated in the Child Rights Act.
According to him, keeping the children in detention for more than 48 hours and their eventual arraignment at a Federal High Court was a gross violation of the provision of the Act and the entire constitution.
He said, “This is entirely a breach of the Child Rights Act, which is a part of the laws guiding the federation, but if they are minors, that means they are below the age of 18. The Child Rights Act talks about justice administration and that the child must be arraigned in accordance with the provision of that law.
“I think there is a charge administration in that law, which specifies specific offences and procedures to arraign a child. To arraign a child at a Federal High Court is a serious breach of the constitution and the Child Rights Act. It is highly inappropriate. By the provision of the constitution, you can only be detained for a maximum of 48 hours.
“They cannot keep a minor in custody with adults. They should be kept in juvenile detention, not in a police station. There should be a specific detention for children and not with adults. So, what they are doing is very wrong. Section 204 of the Child Rights Act, Laws of Federation states, ‘No child shall be subjected to the criminal justice process or criminal sanctions, but a child alleged to have committed an act which would constitute a criminal offence if he were an adult shall be subjected only to the child justice system and processes set out in this Act.’”
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Dean, Faculty of Law at the Nile Universityof Nigeria, Abuja, Professor Shehu Zuru, argued that the charges against the protesters were wrong.
He said, “Those who were raising Russian flag, does that even amount to treason? What is treason by the way? This is an organised insurrection against constituted authority. It is an insurrection that has challenged the sovereignty of state. But you can’t compare that to civil disobedience. No!
“But where you have an organised mutiny or insurrection and it has clearly challenged the sovereignty of a state like the Boko Haram accompanied by hoisting of flags, then, that will amount to treason. Like those involved in the Boko Haram movement, of course, that is treasonable. But you can’t just pack people who are involved in an organised civil protest and say they have been involved in treasonable activity, not at all.”
Another lawyer, Festus Ogun, said it was “shameful” that Nigerian authorities charged “poor, homeless, malnourished and out-of-school children” to court for participating in #EndBadGovernance protest.
He argued that the persecution of children by the Federal Government was unacceptable and constituted a gross violation of human rights.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, described the arrest and detention of the minors as a violation of their fundamental human rights.
“The Tinubu regime is making a mockery of our criminal justice system by parading minors in this manner. It reflects an unserious approach and tarnishes the community’s reputation,” he stated.
Effiong called for immediate action from the government, urging authorities to discontinue the charges against the minors and focus instead on rehabilitating them.
Atiku, Obi, senator slam Tinubu’s govt
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the detention and prosecution of the minors had exposed the inhuman nature of the Tinubu administration.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his media team in Abuja, lamented that the pitiable sight of the children in the courtroom was reminiscent of the infamous Nazi concentration camp.
The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election also noted that it was an “utter violation” of Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act, which guarantees that no child should be subjected to physical, mental, or emotional injury as well as torture and inhumane punishment.
He said, “If they are just being arraigned three months later, one can only imagine the sort of dehumanising conditions they had been subjected to and have been detained all this while.
“I find it reprehensible that a man who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh and draconian policies.
“Children who are the most affected by these policies have every right to protest peacefully as guaranteed by the constitution and the Child Rights Act. A nation can be assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is saddening that even underage children are not spared from the wickedness of T Pain.”
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, also expressed dismay over the treatment of the minors.
“I would like to call on relevant authorities, especially the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Police, and the DSS, as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to thoroughly investigate such inhuman treatment of minors to avert such incidents in the future,” Obi said.
The lawmaker representing Niger East (APC), Senator Sani Musa, called on the IG to investigate the inhumane detention and prosecution of the protesters.
Musa, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, urged the NJC to probe the decision of the judge who presided over their case.
CDHR, Amnesty Intl, SERAP, NEF condemn detention
Also reacting, the President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Debo Adeniran, said it was unexplainable that a supposed progressive government could maltreat children in the way it had done.
Adeniran stated that it was cruel to arrest and detain the minors for days without trial, adding that the ill-treatment meted out to the children was condemnable.
He said, “The #EndBadGovernance, #FearlessOctober and other protests will be a child’s play if the government continues to stoke embers of violence inside the citizenry. A lot of people are angry with the government, and what the government should do is to persuade them to come up with schemes that will douse the tension.”
Amnesty International also condemned the continuous detention of the minors who were arrested in August for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in August.
Amnesty, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), described the trial of the minors for treason as a “sham” and demanded the unconditional release of the defendants.
“The attempts to put the minors through a sham trial over alleged treason shows the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law. The authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally”, the statement read.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Take it Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said it was “dishonourable” for underage children to face such fate.
“The Federal Government is a disgrace, arraigning underage children for capital punishment for protest after starving them for months. See how malnourished and unkempt they looked. This is an egregious crime against humanity,” Sanyaolu said.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre appealed to Tinubu to end the prosecution of the minors by ordering their release of the children.
The organisation, in a statement by its Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, also urged international bodies to join in condemning the incident and pressuring the Nigerian government for an unconditional release.
Reacting via its X handle, the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project condemned the detention of the minors, calling on President Tinubu to immediately release them or face legal action.
“The Tinubu administration must unconditionally release the 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters and drop all charges of ‘treasonable felony’ against them, or face legal action. No one should ever be punished for the peaceful exercise of their human rights”, the post read.
A spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Abdulazeez Sulaiman, described the children as frail and fearful, representing a profound societal failure.
Sulaiman emphasised that accusing children of treason, a serious charge typically reserved for adults, was troubling and reflected “a disturbing distortion of legal and moral principles.”
He argued that children, inherently innocent and unable to grasp political complexities, should never be subjected to such grave accusations.
“Their detention, particularly in a politically charged atmosphere, raises serious concerns about potential abuse and neglect, violating their fundamental human rights,” he said.
He urged the international community to take action, calling for solidarity and a commitment to protect vulnerable individuals.
#EndBadGovernance protesters: Even Underage Children Are Not Spared From The Wickedness Of T-Pain - Atiku Lambasts Tinubu
AFOLABI
Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria, has criticized the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration for detaining and prosecuting #EndBadGovernance protesters who are minors.
Recall that minors were on Friday arraigned by the Nigeria Police for alleged treason. The minors were said to have been arrested by Nigeria Police during the August hunger protest.
Four of the malnourished minors detained for three months over #EndBadGovernance protests slumped during an appearance in the courtroom.
Reacting in a statement to Naija News, Atiku described the video showing the moment the minors slumped as disturbing.
Atiku, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, said he finds it reprehensible that Tinubu who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh policies.
He said: “A disturbing video of malnourished children being arraigned before a Federal High Court on the orders of the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has been brought to my notice.
“The horrible scene reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp once again reflects the low premium the current government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.
“For emphasis, Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act guarantees dignity of the child.
“It states that, “Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be ‐ (a) subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; (b) subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
“The children are being prosecuted for their alleged role in the #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place between August 1 and August 10, 2024. If they are just being arraigned three months later, one can only imagine the sort of dehumanizing conditions they had been subjected to and have been detained all this while.
“I find it reprehensible that a man who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh and draconian policies.
“Children who are the most affected by these polices have every right to protest peacefully as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Child Rights Act. A nation can be assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is saddening that even underage children are not spared from the wickedness of T Pain.
“The disturbing condition under which the alleged accused children were brought to court projects the very justification for their participation in the protest in the first place.”
The founder of civil advocacy and pro-accountability organisation, BudgIT, Seun Onigbinde has stated that President Bola Tinubu lacks the input of experts in his policies.
According to Onigbinde, Tinubu started on the wrong foot with his twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the foreign exchange windows.
Onigbinde stated this on the Friday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme on Channels Television.
He said many of the decisions of the President lack the input of experts, and his cabinet is populated by politician-ministers who earned their seats as a political reward.
“Honestly speaking, I don’t think they’ve started well. I think we are seeing a dearth of technocratic leadership.
“There is an over-extension of political opportunism. That is my problem with the government.
“That’s why a lot of a lot of decisions were taken and they were not taken with sound technocratic support,” he said.
The BudgIT founder said beyond the sack of five ministers, Tinubu should let go of more members of his cabinet and bring technocrats onboard who would offer him sound advice like in the days of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Finance Minister and now World Trade Organisation (WTO) boss; former apex bank chief Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; former Agriculture Minister and now African Development Bank (AfDB) chief, Akinwunmi Adesina, among others.
Onigbinde said, “Remove fuel subsidy from day one, I think that was a bad decision. The exchange rate parity without a significant buffer.
“A currency must have some level of stability. You don’t see that anywhere in the world where currency just fluctuates randomly like we are having it right now.
“I feel that he (Tinubu) has to go back and reflect. Do I want to govern or do I want to do politics? Because look at his cabinet. There are still at least five to six people that he can look at (for disengagement).
“There are still more people in the system that he needs to take out. We need the days of Okonjo, Soludo, El-Rufai, we need that technocratic core.”
#EndBadGovernance: ‘Here Is Evidence Of Govt Punishing Citizens’ – Oby Ezekwesili Tackles Tinubu
AFOLABI
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has reacted after three malnourished minors detained for three months over #EndBadGovernance protests slumped in the courtroom.
Naija News reported that minors were on Friday arraigned by the Nigeria Police for alleged treason. The minors were said to have been arrested by Nigeria Police during the August hunger protest.
In an open letter via X, Ezekwesili criticized President Bola Tinubu for punishing its citizens for daring to tell you the truth of #BadGovernance by his administration.
Ezekwesili asserted that Nigerian political leaders have serially failed the “test of leadership” because they act as wicked rulers who feel entitled to the “publicly-funded luxurious life” while repressing and pauperizing the citizens.
She also urged Tinubu to stop the prosecution of the minors and send the children back to their parents and ensure they are compensated for the physical, mental, emotional and overall psychological damage.
She wrote: “LETTER TO @officialABAT Here is the sordid evidence of the @NigeriaGov punishing your citizens for daring to tell you the truth of #BadGovernance by your administration. No one can ever solve a Problem they deny and refuse to own. No one.
“Agitation to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria is shared by overwhelming majority of your citizens. For real. How many of your Citizens can you take to court like done to these minors? How many of your Citizens can you detain and deprive of their freedoms like done to these minors?
“Hear me. No ruler has ever won against their people forever. Check history. Note that I wrote ruler and not leader. The repressive class of politicians in Nigeria are not leaders. You all have serially failed the “test of leadership” because you act as wicked rulers who feel entitled to the “publicly-funded luxurious life” while repressing and pauperizing the citizens.
“Second, @officialABAT, the evident corrupted capture of our Judiciary by the @NigeriaGov is playing out daily on Candid Camera before the eyes of the world. The trial of these minors is one of many examples these days. Stop the wicked prosecution of these minors immediately and send the children back to their parents and guardians.
“Next, ensure that they are compensated for the physical, mental, emotional and overall psychological damage you have done to them by abusing the powers of the Nigerian State and grossly violating their constitutional rights.
“When those children came out to protest asking you to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, they were telling you the “Truth and nothing but the Truth”. I hope you start listening to what majority of your Citizens especially these children are telling you daily: “Ebi npawa” , “we are hungry”.”
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 76 individuals involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests that took place in August 2024.
Naija News reports seventy-five suspects, aged between twelve and fifteen years of age, were brought by the Police before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a 10-count charge in relation to their participation in the protest.
On Friday, Justice Egwuatu presided over the proceedings and set bail for each defendant at ₦10 million.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu mandated that each protester provide two sureties, each for the same amount.
One of these sureties must be a civil servant holding a grade level of 15 or higher, who also has a verifiable address within the court’s jurisdiction. The second surety is required to be a parent of the protester.
Earlier reports indicated that the Nigerian government had temporarily dropped charges against five minors facing trial for their participation in the #EndBadGovernance protests after they collapsed in the courtroom.
These minors had been in custody for several weeks and exhibited clear signs of poor health, which worsened during the court session, necessitating urgent medical attention.
Eyewitness accounts described the situation as distressing, with some lawyers rushing to aid the young individuals who collapsed after being summoned to the dock.
In response to this incident, the prosecution sought the temporary withdrawal of charges, a request that was granted by the court, noting that the minors would be re-arraigned once their health improved.
“A couple of them fainted inside the courtroom because of maltreatment, they have not eaten for some days,” a source told SaharaReporters, accusing authorities of using hunger as a means of torture against the protesters for exercising their constitutional rights.
One malnourished minor was the first to collapse, followed by four others who also fell to the courtroom floor.
The courtroom descended into chaos as the primarily minor defendants were asked to step into the dock.
Some lawyers and court officials quickly administered aid to the minors before they were taken to the hospital, causing court proceedings to be temporarily suspended.
Following this episode, the prosecution invoked the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to request the withdrawal of charges against the minors on health grounds.
Defence attorney Abubakar Marshal argued that the minors should be returned to their parents.
The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Friday, ruled for the final forfeiture of $2.045 million, seven premium landed properties, and share certificates tied to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued the ruling after determining that neither Emefiele nor any other claimant contested the interim forfeiture order.
The forfeiture includes two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust and seven high-value properties, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) argued were not linked to any verifiable lawful earnings from Emefiele’s time at Zenith Bank or the CBN.
Justice Dipeolu held that Emefiele had not provided documentation or any legitimate source of funds to substantiate his acquisition of the properties.
Emefiele, who has consistently denied any connection to the implicated companies through which the properties were purchased, did not appear in court to defend his ownership claims.
The companies—Amrash Ventures Limited, Modern Hotels Limited, Finebury Properties Limited, Fidelity Express Services Limited, H & Y Business Global Limited, and SDEM Erectors Nigeria Limited—also failed to challenge the forfeiture.
Justice Dipeolu held, “the conclusion that can be deduced is that there must be something dark about the acquisition of the properties which Emefiele and the companies does not want to come to light.”
The judge further held “that the interested party has failed to demonstrate any lawful interest in the properties and that they were aquired from his legitimate earnings.
“I therefore order the final forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of all those properties…which are reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The properties are: two fully detached duplexes of identical structures, lying being and situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land, measuring 1919.592sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos and a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi.
Others are an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; 8 units of an undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
On August 15, 2024, the court authorized the EFCC to take custody of the cash sum of $2.045million temporarily, seven choice landed properties and shares linked to Emefiele after hearing an Exparte application filed by lead counsel to the Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
The court’s ruling followed the EFCC’s assertion that the money and other items sought to be forfeited were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
However, counsel to Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), had urged the court to stay proceedings and not grant the final forfeiture of the properties.
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has taken a swipe at the government of President Bola Tinubu.
He was reacting to the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun's statement that FG has given N25,000 to 25 million Nigerians.
Mocking FG, Sani said Edun thinks he can lift 25 million Nigerians from poverty with N25,000.
Edun had said the social investment programme had expanded its reach to 25 million vulnerable Nigerians from five million households.
The programme involves direct cash transfers to individuals on the social register, verified through biometric identification and paid through bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Speaking with State House Correspondent at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Edun said the first and second payments have already been made to beneficiaries.
According to Edun: “Those payments have been rolled out. They’ve now reached five million households, 25 million Nigerians, and first and second payments are being made.”
Reacting, Sani posted on X: “N25k for 25million people.Minister Edun has lifted 25million people out of poverty, they have now arrived at the Airport of prosperity. Kudos.”
A 35-year-old Patience Ashenenye has been killed after a policeman reportedly crashed into the commercial motorcycle she was riding with her three-month-old son.
It was gathered that the sad incident happened behind Ta’al Conference Hotel near the School of Health.
The accident left both Ashenenye and the motorcycle rider, Tasiu Mohammed, injured, while her son suffered a broken leg.
Ashenenye died shortly after arriving at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital.
Two days later, the family reported that two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) visited them to offer N100,000 for Ashenenye’s burial expenses.
Her family, however, rejected the sum, stating they were only interested in justice for her untimely death.
Speaking with Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ, Ashenenye’s brother George Akube alleged the officer responsible was speeding in a government-owned Hilux vehicle.
“The policeman survived, but my sister did not. Her son is now in the hospital with a broken leg,”Akube said.
Nasarawa State Police Command spokesman Ramhan Nansel stated that while the police have launched an investigation, the officer involved was hospitalized due to shock.
Nansel, in a statement, expressed condolences to the family, adding that the N100,000 offer aimed to alleviate medical expenses.
The Command has since pledged to cover all medical costs for those injured in the crash.
Police Commissioner Umar Shehu Nadada conveyed sympathies to the Ashenenye family, stating that the Command would seek justice.
The spokesperson, Nansel, however, did not confirm if the officer would face prosecution, noting the investigation is ongoing.