An inspector of Police captured on video camera slapping a commuter repeatedly in Imo State is now cooling off at the Provost Marshal’s office at the Police headquarters, in Abuja.
The officer was captured by another commuter on a shuttle, first, manhandling the victim who appeared not to be intimidated by the officer.
The incident captured by another commuter in a 41-minute viral video showed the victim wearing a face cap and a white T-shirt.
The victim could be heard saying, “I did not do anything”, when the officer, clearly infuriated, removed the victim’s cap and used it to hit his face.
When the rest of the commuters pleaded with him to stop hitting the young man, he warned them and asked that they stay away from the matter.
The officer again threatened to slap another commuter standing beside the victim who was pleading.
The officer was further captured saying to the victim, “Are you the only person? If you say rubbish, I will beat you. I will tell my boys to lock you in the booth.
“Do you know who I am? How many of your family are police inspectors? I am asking you”, he yelled at the victim who was trying to make a comment while also hitting him.
The victim then calmly responded saying, “This thing you are doing here, if I make a call you will be in trouble”.
Enraged by his statement, the officer hit him further, attempting to use a stick he was holding on the victim.
Updating Nigerians on Saturday evening, the spokesperson of the police said the inspector was “brought to the FHQ, Abuja, and he has been handed over to the Provost Marshal for necessary disciplinary action”’
He added, “We will not condone any act of unprofessionalism”.
Muyiwa also posted an image of the Inspector in his office in Abuja, where he was made to watch himself in the viral video.
The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday said it is investigating a report of an alleged extortion of N620,000 by some men said to be police officers wearing Mufti along the Sanni Abacha road, GRA in Rivers State.
The Police Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed this while reacting to the complaints via his X, formerly Twitter, account.
Some men said to be officers of the Rivers State Police Command were reported to have accosted one Daniel at about 9 p.m. while he rode on an Uber.
The men, five in number, were said to have appeared in an all-black attire without name tags or a serial number for identification.
The brother of the victim, who reported the case via his X handle @smartninho narrated: “They seized his phone and went through it. They found nothing and went ahead to open all his bank apps and saw money in his accounts.
“They beat him up and put him in their Sienna. They kept beating him in the sienna with other boys they picked in a similar style. They did not allow him to communicate with his family or relatives.
“They drove them to a thick bush in Ogoni and continued to the border of Akwa Ibom. There they stopped and brought him out. They continued beating and threatening to shoot him if he didn’t transfer a huge amount to them.
“They started with a request for Twenty million Naira (N20m). They emptied his accounts, removing over Six hundred and twenty thousand Naira (N620k)”.
The post shared at 3: 38 p.m. on Saturday, gained traction after an independent journalist and influencer on the X App escalated the incident via his paid blue tick page.
The spokesperson of the police, Muyiwa while reacting said, “This will be looked into again. I am personally taking it up”.
He added, “I agree that we have recorded some cases against the men in Rivers Command, and we will address them all. I want to commend those who have been sending in their complaints. Justice will be done”.
The Rivers State Police command has come under fire in recent times following numerous complaints and claims from residents of brutality, indiscriminate extortion, high-handedness, unprofessionalism and public disobedience of police extant laws.
In April, three officers were captured assaulting a motorist in the state. The officers were seen slapping the victim repeatedly after beating him with a cane.
In a follow-up to Muyiwa’s reaction, the Nigeria Police Force also took to its official page to condemn the situation, pledging to take action if “guilt is proven”.
It said, “We take misconduct allegations seriously and are concerned about the reported incident. The welfare and safety of all citizens matter.
“An investigation is underway. Rest assured, action will be taken if guilt is proven. Thank you for bringing this to our notice”.
The management of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a Federal Government-contracted oil pipeline surveillance firm has accused the Nigerian Navy of arresting its staff while ensuring that oil thieves fled when the company staff made attempts to arrest them.
The company also said it had evidence to disprove the arrest and continued detention of its personnel over an alleged crude oil theft.
Operatives of the Navy under the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga had arrested four Tantita personnel on the waterways in Itolu community, Lekki, in Lagos State.
The Navy said they were investigating the circumstances that led to economic sabotage and how the oil product from Ondo State made its way to the Lagos Sea.
But Tantita in a statement on Saturday explained details of the incident accusing the Navy of sabotage.
It said, “On Monday, August 28, at about 1:30 p.m., a Tantita Security Services patrol team operating in the Ondo State area received credible intelligence that a motorised wooden boat was illegally loading crude oil from an offshore oil well jacket.
“In fact, the same well jacket in OML 110 operated by Cavendish Petroleum Nigeria Limited, where we caught MT TURA II stealing crude oil, a few months ago.
“They dispatched an advance team to find the wooden boat while a backup team comprising Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) component of the government security agencies (GSA) was assembled to follow through on the lead.
“While we cannot name the NSCDC personnel for obvious reasons, they were six and our personnel were eight, not four. The advance team with the help of local fisher folk could determine that the motorised wooden boat was heading toward Lagos and gave hot pursuit.
“Upon noticing the approaching Tantita teams, the crew of the motorised wooden boat abandoned the wooden boat for their speed boat.
“One team of Tantita and NSCDC personnel boarded the wooden boat to secure the evidence while another team gave hot pursuit.
“There is video evidence of the Tantita team together with NSCDC personnel coming alongside the wooden boat, boarding and attempting to secure the boat.
“There is also evidence of the Tantita and GSA team giving chase to the crew of the boat. How then did the Nigerian Navy get involved in this operation?
“The escaping crew of the motorised wooden boat fled toward the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base at Ibeju-Lekki, so the Tantita and NSCDC personnel followed in hot pursuit, believing that the criminals would meet their waterloo there.
“They were wrong. Instead of the fleeing crew being arrested, it was the Tantita personnel who came down to apprehend the fleeing crew that was arrested.
“After arresting Tantita personnel and freeing the crew, the Nigerian Navy personnel then went to the motorised wooden boat and drove out the combined Tantita/GSA team trying to keep the boat and the evidence afloat.”
The firm stated that as soon as the men were arrested, the management of Tantita reached out to the Navy for clarification of the situation, and they received feedback saying they were investigating and the men would be released, yet they were still being detained.
Tantita claimed to have gotten the outcome of the Navy’s investigation on the incident saying “There are even more damning revelations, which out of courtesy to the Navy hierarchy and the needs of national security we will not divulge on the pages of a newspaper”.
It, however, noted that “the continued detention by the Nigerian Navy of these five brave, selfless Nigerians who risked their lives on the high seas to protect our commonwealth is a disservice to our nation.
“These family men put their lives at risk for the good of the nation and are now being made to suffer ridicule for doing the right thing. It serves to demoralise good men everywhere who have sought and are seeking to do something to better our nation”, the firm stated.
Simon Ekpa, acclaimed prime minister of Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE), Saturday, said “if Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafrans being illegally detained by the Nigeria state are not released, and all roadblocks and checkpoints in the South-East not dismantled on or before 15th of September 2023, the people will embark on another 3 weeks’ civil disobedience with a curfew.”
Ekpa stated this in a release entitled ‘delegitimisation of Nigeria within Biafra territory’.
The breakdown of the three-week sit-at-home shows that ‘Week One, September 18, 2023, will be the normal Monday sit-at-home; September 19, 2023, to September 22, 2023 will be a curfew from 6am to 12 noon; while September 23 2023 will be normal movement.
The statement added, “Week Two, 25.9.2023, there will be normal Monday sit-at-home; 26.9.2023 to 29.9.2023, there will be curfew from 6am to 12noon; 30.9.2023 and 1.10.2023 and 1.10. 2023, there will be normal movement in Biafra country.
“Week Three, 2.10.2023, normal Monday sit-at-home; 3.10.2023 to 6.10.2023, there will be curfew from 6am to 12noon. During this 3 weeks’ curfew, every Nigeria government secretariat in Biafra territory must shut down in all states.”
Our correspondent reports that Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra in June this year, barred Ekpa from declaring sit-at-home, describing the act as ‘killing the economy of the south-easterners whom he is fighting for’.
Kanu’s handwritten statement was unveiled during a world press conference in Enugu organised by his special counsel, Barr Aloy Eimakor.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing had, Friday, reaffirmed their resolve to end sit-at-home in the Southeast of Nigeria.
According to the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze youths “expressed concern over the instigated insecurity and socio-economic disruptions in Igbo land.
” While commending the Southeast governors for all the efforts towards overcoming these challenges, the acting national youth leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, stated that they shall not rest on their oars till peace and security is restored in Southeast and Nigeria at large.”
IPOB had declared sit-at-home in 2021 to demand the release of Kanu who is being detained at the custody of the DSS over alleged treason, running a proscribed group and jumping bail.
Despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home by IPOB, Ekpa’s renegade wing has been ordering sit-at-home, including a two-week sit-at-home last month.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has assured Nigerians that his ministry would be transparent and people-centered in all its dealings.
The minister, who spoke during the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), explained that transparency and people-centredness in rule of law are key to the country’s progress.
The NBA’s annual conference which was held in Abuja ended on Friday.
At the gathering, Fagbemi held that going forward, the Ministry under his watch will place the fundamental rights of average citizens and their well being at the centre of its strategies or policies.
“I have realised that with the enormity of tasks at hand, the most reliable approach to making significant progress will be to place the people at the centre of every policy and strategy of the Ministry.
“With the generous support of Mr. President, my Ministry will dedicate its time and resources in the promotion of people-centred Justice,” said Fagbemi who also promised that his ministry’s reform agenda would involve promotion of the rule of law and administration of justice.
“We will maintain fair, transparent, and responsive processes that will reflect the aspirations of Nigerians in the overall promotion of the rule of law and administration of justice,” Fagbemi said.
THE WHISTLER reports that Fagbemi became Nigeria’s 24th AGF after his swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, 21st August, 2023.
Before his nomination as AGF, he served as the lead counsel of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defending the ruling party against petitions challenging the election of Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decried its inability to secure convictions in corruption cases, including high-profile ones, attributing it to frivolous court judgments.
The spokesman for the commission, Wilson Uwajaren, in an interview with journalists in Kaduna State, highlighted some of the challenges impeding the speedy prosecution of corruption cases and securing convictions.
According to him, the losses are due to what he described as frivolous court judgments based on technicalities rather than the facts and national interest, as well as arbitrary adjournment of corruption cases, among other factors.
Uwajaren, who shared the insight at a one-day workshop for media practitioners on Effective Reporting of EFCC activities held in Kaduna State, also disclosed that the commission secured about 7,700 convictions across the country in 2022.
In his remarks, the acting Chairman of the commission, Abdulkarim Chukkol, expressed concern over the rising internet-related fraud among the youth in Kaduna State.
The EFCC boss, who was represented by the acting Zonal Commander in the state, Aisha Abubakar, lamented that the active involvement of youths in internet-related frauds had the tendency to smear the image of the country and consequently discourage hard work and legitimate means of livelihood.
He urged the media to beam its searchlight on the menace of internet crimes and adequately inform the public about the activities of such criminal elements in order to safeguard them from falling victim to fraud.
Chukkol also restated the “unwavering” commitment of the EFCC towards eradicating all forms of economic and financial crimes in the country, noting that such efforts had led to the conviction of over 100 financial crime offenders in the Kaduna zonal office alone.
it's a rumour, Shaibu's CPS reacts
The feud between the Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Comrade Philip Shaibu is getting messier daily, following the reported evacuation of the office of the deputy out of the state Government House by Obaseki.
The office of the deputy governor which was hitherto located inside Government House in Benin, it was gathered has been relocated to the state government-owned building, an alleged abandoned property along Dennis Osadebey in GRA, Benin City, the Edo State capital.
It was gathered the new office of the embattled Philip Shaibu, is now at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, with a conspicuous signpost erected at the front of the building.
The signpost has an inscription as: “Office of the Deputy Governor; NO 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City”.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Shaibu, Comrade Musa Ebomhiana, told our correspondent that he had yet to get an official correspondent to that effect.
“I don’t know how true it is, but I still see it as a story in the realm of rumour. I have not been informed officially and I don’t believe in rumour but substance.
“This is weekend and we are here in Edo North for the election (Local Government Council election)
“And we plan to resume on Monday when the picture would be clearer. As I speak to you now, we are in an election in Edo North and I don’t want to comment on something I don’t know. It is on social media and I have also read about it,” he said.
Recall that Comrade Shaibu recently approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, and sought amongst others, an order restricting Governor Obaseki, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Edo State and others from commencing his alleged impeachment processes.
The development according to political observers had led to the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary of the State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, an in-law of the deputy governor to the state, Government House.
The deputy governor’s press crew prior to its recent disbandment by Governor Obaseki was sent out from the venue of the 60th anniversary celebration of Midwest Referendum venue in Benin.
Also, the deputy governor was recently prevented from going close to his principal Obaseki by a security detail attached to the governor during a recent function in Benin.
says Tinubu wants to rebuild the economy
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has urged Nigerians to stop complaining about the current hardship, saying all policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government are to revive the economy.
Since Tinubu’s inauguration in May, his government has taken a series of decisions including removal of subsidy on petroleum as it pushes for reforms in major sectors of the economy.
The moves have triggered criticisms from several Nigerians and recently led to nationwide protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other labour unions.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Uzodinma said Nigerians must “reduce lamentations and agitations” regarding the policies of the Tinubu administration.
The Imo governor said the desire of the president to “recover the economy” is “so strong and impeccable”, adding that “every reasonable mind” in the country should support the president.
“Time has come for us to begin to wear our thinking cap. To think differently and positively. Reduce lamentations and agitations and then confront the challenges before us as a people. It is not about government or Mr. President,” he said
“It is about our country. Collectively, we must decide to recover our country. You may not like the face of the man in power. You may not like the face of the President but you should listen to him to understand whether he is making some sense or committed.
“The commitment I have seen from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his desire and passion to recover the economy of this country and drive this country forward on the path of growth is so strong and impeccable that every reasonable mind in the country must jump and follow.
“And this is how many days? Just less than 70 days as president and people have started lamentations here and there. I think we should be positive thinkers and think correctly as citizens.”
Uzodimma, who is seeking re-election in November, also promised to fish out masterminds of the insecurity in the South-East state within weeks.
“In a few weeks’ time – what we have deployed now, we will soon unravel those behind the killings and insecurity in Imo State,” he added.
The governor equally restated his claims that members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are the major victims of insecurity in Imo State.
“I have told the security to tell me the reasons behind it. It is not a coincidence that many people who are being killed are members of my party, APC. A child cries in the night and in the day it is lying lifeless.
“It is not also a coincidence that only lately, prominent members of my party that they participated in the last election – their houses are being attacked. Some traditional rulers that I have sympathy for our party, their party were also being attacked,” he added.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recalled all ambassadors and non-career ambassadors serving in different parts of the world
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir on Saturday.
He said: “Sequel to the inquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian ambassador to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has reaffirmed that all career ambassadors and non-career ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Ambassadors as representatives of the country they serve at the behest of the president and it’s his prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”
The ambassadors are expected to commence the winding down of their affairs in their countries of deployment, take formal leave of the host government within 60 days and return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023, at the latest.
The minister, while thanking them for the service they have rendered in their capacity while representing the country in their host countries, said he is looking forward to welcoming them in Abuja on their return.
The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Economic Policy, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS).
This development was confirmed yesterday afternoon by a source close to Obiora, who also admitted that the apex bank’s deputy governor spent some days with the DSS.
The source, who is an official of the CBN, said he had no knowledge of what transpired between Obiora and DSS while in detention.
He said the deputy governor’s release from detention was welcomed by the staff of the apex bank, many of whom were already worried that they were being specifically targeted.
The CBN official said the Jim Obaze-led Special Investigations Panel had “requested for several documents from many departments as part of its investigation to unravel what transpired in the CBN under Godwin Emefiele”.
He also disclosed that the Special Investigation Panel had requested for documents from Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) and the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB).
Following the arrest of Emefiele, President Tinubu appointed a special panel led by Jim Obazee to investigate the CBN.
As part of this ongoing audit, the panel has been questioning the deputy governors of the CBN and other senior officials of the bank.
More...
Gabon’s coup leaders have announced a re-opening of the country’s borders, three days after soldiers seized power from President Ali Bongo.
Speaking on national television on Saturday, the army spokesperson said the reopening of the border is because the junta was “concerned with preserving respect for the rule of law, good relations with our neighbours and all states of the world” — and wanted to keep its “international commitments”.
The land, sea and air borders would be reopened “with immediate effect”, the army spokesperson said.
The military officers led by Brice Oligui Nguema, former head of the country’s presidential guard, had cited institutional, political, economic, and social crises as reasons for the coup.
After announcing that they had seized power, the soldiers, who identified themselves as members of the Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), said they were dissolving “all the institutions of the republic”.
The soldiers also announced the closure of the country’s borders.
The coup — the eighth in West and Central Africa in three years — has raised concerns about a contagion of military takeovers across the continent, painting a picture of democratic regress.
Oligui is due to be sworn in as the transitional president on Monday.
[TheCable]
Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has reacted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to engage the services of popular social media influencer, Adedamola Adewale, a.k.a. Adeherself, to sensitize serving corps members on the dangers of cybercrime.
DAILY POST recalls that the EFCC had in June 2020 arrested Adeherself for cyber fraud and was granted N500,000 bail by an Ikeja Special Offences Court in July.
In February 2023, the Commission rearraigned the social media influencer before an Ikeja High Court over an alleged N7.9 million internet fraud. On a three-count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, attempt to obtain money by false pretences and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct.
However, the EFCC unveiled the defendant as a stakeholder in its anti-graft war and further engaged her to admonish corps members to shun cybercrime.
In a post on its official X, the anti-graft agency said Adeherself was a speaker during a sensitization programme organized by the commission at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.
Aisha Yesufu, reacting to the development on her official X, stated that “In Nigeria, crime is not the issue as long as it is done big time. Petty crime is what is criminalized.”
[DailyPost]
President Bola Tinubu has given marching orders to security agencies to immediately recover over N577 billion disbursed to farmers as loans under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), THE WHISTLER has learnt.
The ABP was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, to create a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and small holder farmers (SHFs) of the required key agricultural commodities.
It was designed to provide farm inputs (in kind and cash) to SHFs to boost production of the key commodities, stabilise input supply to agro-processors and address Nigeria’s negative balance of payments on food.
Agricultural commodities covered under the Programme include cereals (Rice, Maize, wheat etc.), Cotton, Sugarcane, Soyabean, Oil palm, Cocoa and livestock among others.
According to data from the CBN, over N1.1 trillion had been disbursed as loans to states, farmers associations, individuals and companies under the programme as of March this year.
About 4.6 million smallholder farmers cultivating or rearing 21 agricultural commodities have benefitted from the programme so far.
The funds were disbursed through eligible Participating Financial Institutions(PFIs) including deposit money banks and microfinance banks.
According to the CBN guidelines, the tenor of the loans was based on the gestation period of the targeted commodities.
While many of the beneficiaries had reportedly paid back their loans, a total of about N577 billion is said to be outstanding.
A senior presidency source told THE WHISTLER that the president has given security agencies up till September 18 to recover the outstanding loan repayment.
Some banks which reportedly failed to fully disburse the loans to beneficiaries and refused to return the balance to the CBN are also targeted for the recovery effort.
Among other defaulters are states, companies, individuals and various farmers’ associations.
“I can confirm to you that the presidency has ordered security agencies to go after those who have refused to repay the loans received through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme,” said the source who added that a September 18 deadline was given for the loan recovery.
It is unclear which of the security agencies will be involved in the loan recovery effort, but there are reasons to believe the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police Force could be involved.
The DSS has been at the centre of the ongoing investigation of the CBN under Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the bank.
Peter Afunanya, spokesperson of the DSS, did not confirm the development but said, “It is not out of place for security agencies to be tasked with activities of this nature.”
The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has denied a report that he is being considered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the replacement for the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Imram Muhammad had on June 12, claimed that presidential sources told him that Elumelu who is also the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa is being considered for the top job at the apex bank.
Muhammad had tweeted through his X handle @Imranmuhdz, “According to a Source President Tinubu is also considering Tony O. Elumelu as CBN Governor.”
But Elumelu, in a tweet seen by THE WHISTLER advised Nigerians to disregard the report.
“No, please. This is false news!” the UBA boss denied.
Elumelu’s denial of the report came a few days after he met President Tinubu in Aso Rock Vila on August 30.
Although the outcome of his discussions with Tinubu was not made public, Elumelu tweeted through his X account, “Our pursuit of nation-building must be characterised by unwavering determination, empathy, and a commitment to creating a legacy of progress, unity and hope for generations to come.”
President Tinubu on June 9, 2023, suspended the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele over what people described as a personal vendetta. He was replaced by Folashodun Shonubi to head the apex bank in an acting capacity.
But Tinubu suspended the governor on the grounds of his investigation by the Department of State Service and the presidential reforms of the monetary policy.
The DSS had in December 2023 secretly requested a court order from the Federal High Court in Abuja to arrest Emefiele over alleged “terrorism financing, fraudulent activities and economic crimes of national security.”
However, the DSS was denied because they failed to present sufficient evidence to justify the claims.
But Emefiele’s issues with Tinubu can be linked to his naira redesign policy which was announced late in 2022. Emefiele announced the withdrawal of N200, N500 and N1,000 notes on the grounds of reducing vote buying and money in circulation.