The National Economic Council (NEC) has resolved to reinforce the implementation of the National Electrification Strategy in a bid to end the collapse of the nation’s power grid.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, chairman of NEC, told members of the Council that access to energy is a fundamental right and not a privilege because electricity is the oxygen of economic growth.

The Council has constituted a committee on National Electrification to help address the challenges in the power sector.

The committee’s formation was among decisions NEC took at the end of its 146th meeting on Thursday chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee headed by Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, is to work towards deepening states’ engagements within the Electricity Reform Act 2023 and the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan.

Following a presentation by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), NEC observed that Nigeria needs a reformed and diversified electricity system, noting that by empowering states, accessibility and affordability of electricity can be enabled, ensuring that all regions effectively meet their specific energy needs.

Members of the committee include Governors Dikko Radda of Katsina, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau.

Others are Ministers of Finance, Mr Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu; Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu; Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change; Special Adviser to the President on Power; Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

Shettima outlined issues before the Council that require urgent attention including energy infrastructure, human capital development, creative industries, fiscal strategy, industrial innovation, and long-term development planning, describing them as foundational to the transformation Nigeria needs.

He explained that it is for this that experts and stakeholders from some of the critical sectors have been invited to share their insights and contributions.

“The past few months of collapses in our national power grid compel us to reinforce the pace with which we are adopting and implementing the National Electrification Strategy. Energy access is a fundamental right, not a privilege. It is the oxygen of economic growth.

“Our blueprints must, therefore, strive to expand access, empower rural communities, and drive productivity, especially for MSMEs. I hope that our discussions today will inspire solutions to light up homes, power businesses, and fuel Nigeria’s industrial future.

“Whatever path we agree upon, it is clear that a private-sector-led distributed renewable energy generation approach is essential to increasing electricity access for households and small enterprises alike,” he said.

The Vice President also urged the Council to take Nigeria’s creative industry seriously, saying it presents an avenue to redefine the nation’s economic trajectory.

According to him, “new technologies have not only amplified the global appeal of our arts, crafts, and culture but also opened up revenue streams and job opportunities for Nigerians.

“Our music, films, art, and cultural heritage are not just global symbols of Nigeria’s soft power but also vital engines of economic growth. We cannot afford to relegate the promise of turning creativity into wealth, empowering our youth, and positioning Nigeria as a hub of innovation and cultural excellence,” he added.

Meanwhile, the position of states on state police will be ready by the next NEC meeting.

Deliberating on the updated submission on the establishment of state police, Council mandated states that were yet to make their submissions on the subject matter should comply within the next one week to enable NEC to come up with a unanimous position on state police at the next meeting.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reignited conversations around the urgent need for electoral reform in Nigeria, calling for a complete restructuring of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking via a recorded address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University, Obasanjo urged the dismissal of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and other officials, emphasizing the necessity of vetting and appointing credible individuals to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Obasanjo criticized INEC’s performance in the 2023 general elections, accusing the commission of failing to implement key technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

He argued that this failure was not due to technical glitches but deliberate inaction, which led to widespread irregularities.

“These technologies were touted by the INEC chairman himself. In the end, these technologies did not fail.

“INEC wilfully failed to use or implement them which resulted in widespread voting irregularities. It was a case of inviting the fox into the hen house,” Obasanjo stated.

The former President stressed the need for short tenures for INEC officials to prevent corruption and undue political influence, adding that credible leadership at all levels—federal, state, and local—was critical to restoring electoral integrity.

“As a matter of urgency, we must make sure the INEC chairperson and his or her staff are thoroughly vetted. The vetting exercise should yield dispassionate, non-partisan, actors with impeccable reputations.

“Nigeria must ensure the appointment of new credible INEC leadership at the federal, state, local government and municipal – city, town, and village levels – with short tenures – to prevent undesirable political influence and corruption, and re-establish trust in the electoral systems by its citizens.

“The INEC chairperson must not only be absolutely above board, he must also be transparently independent and incorruptible,” Obasanjo stated.

The Presidency, however, dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks as hypocritical.

Earlier on Monday, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, described Obasanjo as a man with “a tremendous capacity for mischief.”

Similarly, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, accused Obasanjo of presiding over some of Nigeria’s most fraudulent elections during his tenure.

Onanuga described the ex-president’s call for INEC leadership overhaul as ironic, given his administration’s controversial electoral history.

“After wasting billions of naira on a failed third-term project in 2007, Chief Obasanjo hurriedly organised a sham electoral process that would go down in history as the most fraudulent election held in Nigeria since 1960.

“The beneficiary of the sham election, Umaru Yar’adua, admitted that the election was seriously flawed and, as Justice Muhammed Uwais’s panel recommended, worked towards electoral reforms.

“It is hypocrisy writ large when a man who presided over the worst election in Nigeria demands the sack of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Onanuga wrote.

This renewed debate comes amid lingering dissatisfaction with the 2023 elections and off-cycle gubernatorial polls in states like Kogi, Imo, and Edo.

The alleged non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formed a key argument in the legal challenges filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) against the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

Despite losing at both the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) and the Supreme Court, Atiku and Obi insisted that INEC failed to adhere to the provisions of the electoral law and its own regulations during the election.

They argued that the commission violated its guidelines by failing to deploy required technological tools for voter accreditation and result verification.

The Supreme Court acknowledged these concerns, noting that the malfunction of INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal undermines public confidence in the electoral process.

Justice John Okoro, delivering the lead judgment in Atiku’s appeal, remarked, “Truth must be told, the non-functioning of the IReV may also reduce the confidence of the voting public in the electoral process.”

Adding to the discourse, Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, highlighted the need for sweeping electoral reforms.

He criticised the “gross flaws” and “manipulations” observed during the Edo State governorship election, which he said were enough to warrant a complete overhaul of the electoral system.

Amadi also suggested on X.com that anyone aspiring for the presidency in 2027 must prioritise disbanding INEC.

“Anyone thinking of being the President of Nigeria in 2027 and not thinking of disbanding this @inecnigeria is not serious,” he posted on X.

At a recent press briefing in Abuja, Amadi expressed doubts about INEC’s ability to deliver credible elections in the future, citing inconsistencies between results declared by the commission and those uploaded on the IReV platform during the Edo polls.

He called for greater transparency and accountability in result collation and certification processes, stressing that INEC’s performance in Edo had failed to inspire trust ahead of subsequent elections.

“There were allegations that election results were manipulated.

“The INEC leadership has assured that they will avoid the mistakes of Edo.

“There is no reason to trust that they would act honestly to uphold electoral integrity in Ondo.

“The second issue is the procedure of result collation in Edo. We have read reports of forensic reviews of observer groups. We see clearly that the result declared by INEC differs materially from the results uploaded in the IREV.

“This inconsistency is damaging to the integrity of the elections. Furthermore, INEC is issuing certified copies of results that are different from what it has uploaded on the IREV.

“This is alarming. It does not assure us of the integrity of future elections,” he said.

Similarly, Nduka Odo, a Public Affairs Analyst from Peaceland University, Enugu, criticised INEC’s lack of accountability and failure to ensure free and fair elections.

Speaking to DAILY POST, Odo described the commission’s excuses regarding infrastructure challenges as “unconvincing” and called for immediate reforms to restore integrity in the electoral process.

He echoed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s concerns about INEC’s integrity, particularly in its handling of electronic result transmission.

Odo said, “INEC’s integrity is once again under fire, and I’m fed up with their constant failures.

“Like former President Obasanjo’s criticism, I agree that INEC’s lack of integrity, especially in electronic transmission of results, is alarming.

“The recent governorship election in Edo State was a critical test for INEC, and from what I’ve seen, they’ve failed miserably.

“Their inability to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process is appalling. The manipulation of results and lack of accountability among INEC officials are serious concerns that need to be addressed.

“The fact that some parties didn’t even submit polling and collation agents, yet they’re participating in the election, is a joke.

“The electronic transmission of results is not rocket science, but INEC has made it seem like an insurmountable task.

“Their excuses about national infrastructure and readiness are tired and unconvincing. It’s time for INEC to take responsibility for their failures and ensure that future elections are credible and transparent.

“INEC must get its act together: No more excuses, no more failures. INEC needs to demonstrate its commitment to free and fair elections.

“Accountability is key: INEC officials involved in electoral malpractices must be held accountable. Transparency is essential: Electronic transmission of results must be implemented effectively to prevent manipulation.

“It’s time for INEC to redeem its integrity and ensure that the people’s votes count. Anything less is unacceptable.”

On his part, Onyebuchi Igboke, Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance, advocated for a reform of Nigeria’s electoral system, starting with the removal of the president’s power to appoint the INEC chairman.

According to Igboke, INEC should be led by individuals with unquestionable integrity, a standard he claimed was not met by the current chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who failed to deliver on promises of real-time electronic result transmission during the 2023 elections.

Igboke further argued that elections are crucial for selecting leaders who manage resources and solve societal problems, stressing the need for a transparent and accountable process. He called for significant reforms to ensure future elections truly reflect the will of the people.

He said: “INEC as an institution should be manned only by persons who have integrity. From what was observed from the last election, the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu dashed the hope of Nigerians, especially young Nigerians.

“He made a promise severally before the 2023 presidential election to transmit results electronically, not just the transmission of results but in real time.

“However, everyone was disappointed how the results for the presidential election weren’t transmitted as he promised.

“I totally agree with what the former President Olusegun Obasanjo said about the institution lacking in integrity. In a sane clime, the INEC chairman should have resigned after the event of the 2022 general election.

“In the recent off-cycle elections in Kogi, Imo, Ondo, and Edo states, we saw what happened. Is that what we wish to have as an election?

“Election is a serious business because it gives people the opportunity to recruit individuals who will manage their resources, lead them into prosperity, and solve their problems.

“Electioneering in Nigeria should be reformed. This should begin by removing the power of the President to even appoint the INEC chairman.”

Households experience 6.7 weekly power blackouts

In an apparent reflection of the multidimensional poverty in the country and the impact of continuous reduction in the purchasing power of Nigerians due to rising prices of goods and services, two-thirds of households in the country lack money to eat healthy, nutritious food, a survey by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS has revealed.

The survey also showed that households in the country experience 6.7 power blackouts every week.
The NBS survey titled, “Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024). examines demographics, education, and health trends in Nigeria, comparing data from Wave 4 (2018/19) and Wave 5 (2023/24).

On food insecurity, the survey report stated: “Approximately two out of three households indicated being unable to eat healthy, nutritious or preferred foods because of lack of money in the last 30 days.

Similarly, 63.8 per cent of households ate only a few kinds of food due to lack of money, 62.4 percent were worried about not having enough food to eat, and 60.5 percent ate less than they thought they should.

“Between Waves 4 and 5, the proportion of households that reported being worried about not having enough food to eat because of lack of money increased significantly, from 36.9 percent to 62.4 percent.”

On access to energy, the NBS survey revealed that “82.2 percent of urban households have electricity, compared to 40.4 per cent in rural areas.

Nigerian households face an average of 6.7 power blackouts weekly.

“Cooking typically involves traditional three-stone stoves (65.0 percent), primarily using wood as fuel (70.2 per cent), but with use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rising significantly.

“Many households lack toilet facilities and rely on tube wells or boreholes for drinking water. Waste disposal is mostly informal, with 45.6 percent of households using bushes or streets.”

On asset ownership, the survey revealed that, “Overall asset ownership has declined since 2018/19. However, two-thirds of households have mobile phones, and about 21.3 percent access the Internet.

“The survey shows that 70.4 percent of households own their homes, with rural ownership at 80.1 percent, compared to 49.1 per cent in urban areas.

The absence of the counsel representing convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans has stalled his re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

When the matter came up before the court on Thursday, Justice Coker asked the defendant, Evans about his lawyer.

Evans simply responded, “I’m not sure if my lawyer is coming”.

Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were to be re-arraigned before the court on an amended five counts charge of murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.

When Justice Coker asked the counsel to the second defendant, Nelson Onyejaka, about Evans’s lawyer, Onyejaka explained to the court, “My Lord I tried his number and it’s not going. Even this morning I tried his number and he is not based in Lagos.”

The State Prosecutor, Yusuf Sule, then told the judge that the matter for the day was supposed to be for re-arraignment, but owing to the absence of the first defendant’s counsel, he asked the court to grant an adjournment.

Sule said, “It’s been a trend from the onset. From the beginning of the institution of this matter, the first defendant is the one who has been delaying this matter.
“It’s high time he gets a lawyer in Lagos or brief another lawyer to stand in for him so the matter can go on.”

Sule added that the matter is a 2017 matter and also told the court that the defendant applied for a plea bargain but he doesn’t know if he is still interested in going on with it.

After his submissions, Justice Coker ordered the prosecution to ensure that the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, is on the ground on the next date of adjournment.

The judge said, “OPD can represent the first defendant if his counsel is not present in court because the arraignment must go on at the next date of adjournment”.

The judge adjourned the case to January 30, 2025, for re-arraignment and ordered the first defendant to ask his lawyer to be in court on the adjourned date.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Bode George, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to jettison any plan of contesting the 2027 presidency.

Speaking on Thursday during a press conference to mark his 79th birthday, George told Atiku to step down from the race and allow the younger ones to contest.

According to the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, it is time for Atiku to act like an elder and stop contesting for the presidency, which he has been doing since 1993.

“Now to Atiku, my advice is this: you will be 81 years old in 2027, and you have been contesting for the presidency since 1993. This is the time for you to calm down and act like an elder. I appeal to you in the name of the almighty Allah that you serve, take it easy and leave everything for prosperity,” – Bode George said.

Earlier, Naija News also reported that the PDP chieftain had expressed concern over the state of the opposition party, attributing its challenges to selfish interests among its members.

George called for urgent steps to rescue the party ahead of its forthcoming National Convention.

The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member said that while the party leadership was trying its best to ensure all members had a sense of belonging, some ‘desperados’ were doing everything possible to thwart their efforts.

Calling for a united PDP, George said that the party’s founding fathers, who had gone to the world beyond, would be crying in their graves because PDP has become “a shadow of itself due to selfish interests of some members.”

He described as disheartening and pitiable a situation where some pretentious members were already working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the build-up to the 2027 elections.

The Defence Headquarters and a coalition of civil society organisations, CSOs, led by a Tinubu support group, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors of Nigeria, RHAN, and the Centre for Action Against Corruption, CAAC, on Thursday faulted claims made by ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, concerning oil theft in Nigeria.

Tompolo, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, which is executing the pipeline protection contract awarded by the Nigerian government, had while receiving the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Monday, accused the military, particularly the Nigerian Navy, of involvement in oil theft.

He accused the Navy of working at cross purposes with other state actors and private security outfits tasked with checking oil theft in the Niger Delta.

However, speaking at a biweekly update on military operations on Thursday in Abuja, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, dismissed Tompolo’s claims, describing it as ‘cheap blackmail’.

The Defence Headquarters spokesman said: “As to the question regarding the Nigerian Navy and the CEO of Tantita, you see, I’m almost laughing because it’s laughable. But what I want to say about this situation is this: We seek cooperation, not conflict.

“But all this cheap blackmail has to stop. Come on, we should move faster. We need to act in the best interest of our nation, particularly at this time when we need that revenue. We will work together with our partners.”

Also speaking on the issue on Thursday, the CSOs, led by RHAN and CAAC, condemned Tompolo’s allegations, which they described as unsubstantiated, baseless, frivolous and lacking in merit.

At a press conference in Abuja, the CSOs insisted that Tompolo lacks the moral justification to denigrate the Nigerian Navy, highlighting his antecedents, including his history as a wanted fugitive and member of a militant coalition that terrorised and kidnapped oil workers.

Abdullahi Bilal and Olayemi Isaacs, leaders of RHAN and CAAC, respectively, who addressed journalists, noted that under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Nigerian Navy has achieved significant milestones, including the destruction of illegal refining sites, arrest of sea pirates and reduction in maritime crimes while clocking over 21,630 hours of patrol, resulting in numerous arrests and seizures.

Warning that unsubstantiated allegations could lead to chaos and increased criminality, the CSOs urged the Nigerian Navy to remain focused and resilient in the fight against oil theft.

They added: “It is our collective responsibility to fight against those forces and interests which try to undermine our very collective existence and interests and ensure we annihilate them. This is why we are here today.

“This, to us, is an apt opportunity to take the bull by the horns and conscientise the public on the evil intentions of Tompolo and the sensitive nature of his allegation, as it tries to undermine the Nigerian Navy and also reduce the morale of the fighting gallant men in the field.

“We must also warn of the chaos, destruction and upsurge in criminalities if such misinformation and mischief continue unchecked and unmitigated. Our interest is the national interest.

“We believe that lifting this curtain of secrecy and mischief will move the nation forward, encourage the Armed Forces and indeed the security forces all over the nation, as the sacrifice to secure us.

“We, therefore, call on all lovers of peace and workers with God to join us to condemn this orchestrated onslaught against those men who have decided to haphazard their lives so that we can live in peace and quiet.”

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has expressed concern over the state of the opposition party, attributing its challenges to selfish interests among its members.

Speaking at a news conference in Lagos on Thursday to mark his 79th birthday, George called for urgent steps to rescue the party ahead of its forthcoming National Convention.

He said, “As a loyal party man who lives, thinks, talks, breathes and defends the PDP, I have never left this party since it was formed, so today gives me a great opportunity to deliberate on the future of our party.

“Even as elders of the party are preparing to meet on Nov. 28 in Abuja to chart the way forward, I owe it a duty to declare openly that all is not well with our party. In fact, our party is derailing.

“This is unfortunate because the crisis in our party has further complicated the present tragedy in the socio-economic indices of our dear nation.

“I am raising the alarm today that our party is at the precipice of a dangerous looming crisis, if pending critical party issues are not urgently addressed.”

The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member said that while the party leadership was trying its best to ensure all members had a sense of belonging, some ‘desperados’ were doing everything possible to thwart their efforts.

Calling for a united PDP, George said that the party’s founding fathers, who had gone to the world beyond, would be crying in their graves because PDP has become “a shadow of itself due to selfish interests of some members.”

He described as disheartening and pitiable a situation where some pretentious members were already working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the build-up to the 2027 elections.

George said, “They have one leg in PDP and another leg in APC. Such chameleonic characters are the ones trying to dictate the direction of this party.

“In the name of everything that is dear to our great party, this pretension must be stopped immediately by patriotic members of this party.

“Since the first elective convention of our party in 1999, when PDP was handed over to some of us as national officers, we have never had it this bad.

“If the PDP must rescue Nigerians from the vicious grip of APC in 2027, this must be a major agenda item during our NEC meeting in Abuja.”

Expressing the belief that the PDP was the only party that could save Nigeria, George said that the party must be ready to seize the opportunity to move the country forward.

According to him, the party must not allow disloyal elements to continue to use the platform for their selfish interests, saying “disloyalty is a very grave offence.”.

He added, “Unless we are united, with equity, fairness, and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken, this party will be heading to disaster in 2027.

“If we want to win the 2027 presidential election, we should not allow ourselves to be divided, and those with divisive tendencies should be told in clear language that ‘Enough is Enough’.

“We must change the narratives now so that we don’t embark on a suicide mission, a self-destructive journey for our party in 2027.

“With the suffering in the land and the mismanagement of the economy, Nigerians are waiting for us in 2027 to kick APC out of Aso Rock.”

He urged the party members and leaders from the North to the South to use the forthcoming PDP’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting as a golden opportunity before the next general elections in 2027 “to bury our differences and put on our thinking caps.”

According to him, the party should do everything humanly possible to ensure that the PDP does not go into the dustbin of history in 2027.

On the political crisis in Rivers and the feud between Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, the PDP leaders urged Wike to “cool off immediately.”

Urging party leaders not to treat Fubara like an outcast, George called on all party leaders to rise in defence of the general interest of the party and sanity.

He said, “We should not allow the collective unity of this party to be fragmented. How we collectively address the issues at stake will be a major determinant of the fate of this party in months and years to come.

“It is our determination to ensure that the PDP returns to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on May 29, 2027, but, we can only go back to Aso Rock if we are united, not divided.”

He urged party elders such as Bamanga Tukur, Jim Nwobodo, Ahmadu Ali, Prof. Jerry Gana, Jonah Jang, Peter Odili, James Ibori, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo to rise to the challenges.

The PDP chieftain also urged Victor Attah, Donald Duke, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Ibrahim Shema, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Saka Balogun, Ebenezer Babatope, Bello Haliru, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, Ahmed Makarfi, and others not to keep quiet.

George called on the Chairman of the PDP BoT to invite all the afore mentioned elders for a meeting on the way forward before the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

He said, “We cannot afford to fail and disappoint our founding fathers. Let me state categorically that Nigerians are waiting for us in 2027, but we must put our house in order.

“As leaders, we must not allow anybody to destroy our party because PDP is the only true national party.”

A former vice president Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s newest request for a loan, describing it as “bone-crushing”. 

The Senate has approved the ₦1.77 trillion ($2.2b) loan request of President Tinubu after a voice vote in favour of the request.

But Atiku has slammed the move and believes the loans do not favour Nigerians.

“These @officialABAT’s loans are bone-crushing to Nigerians and bringing insufferable pressure on the economy, especially when they are not properly negotiated and utilized,” Atiku wrote on his X handle on Thursday.

“It is concerning that the voracious appetite for these humongous loans is powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. A report by Budgit, a budget watchdog, has disclosed that the 2024 Budget is a mess because of the level of pork associated with it.”

He accused the National Assembly of being “an accomplice once more”.

“Nigeria is sinking further into debt, and the National Assembly has become an accomplice once more. In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the @FIRSNigeria and @CustomsNG under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the Budget,” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election said.

“Why are they still borrowing? There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”

“I feel a sense of personal agony seeing that just a few years after the administration of President Obasanjo took our country out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” the former vice president added. “It is time to apply more caution and arithmetic to the loan frenzy.”

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government to pay ₦10 million in compensation to Glory Okolie, a Nigerian student, for her unlawful detention and maltreatment by the police.

Delivering its judgment on Thursday, November 21, 2024, the court also directed the government to implement measures to prevent future human rights violations.

Okolie was arrested on June 13, 2021, and detained without judicial authorization. During her detention, she was reportedly denied legal representation, subjected to forced labour, and physically abused.

The case, filed by Okolie alongside the One Love Foundation and the Incorporated Trustees of Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation, argued that these actions violated provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Revised ECOWAS Treaty.

In its defence, the Federal Government claimed that Okolie was associated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and argued that her detention was necessary for national security.

However, in the ruling, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves stated that Okolie’s prolonged detention without judicial oversight breached her fundamental rights to liberty and a fair trial as enshrined in Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter.

“The court found her treatment to be a clear abuse of human rights,” the judgment read.

The court ordered the government to pay ₦10 million in damages, cease all forms of harassment against Okolie, and introduce safeguards to prevent similar violations in the future.

The two co-applicant NGOs were not awarded damages due to procedural issues, the court noted.

The three-member panel presiding over the case included Honourable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, Honourable Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, and Honourable Justice Edward Amoako Asante.

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Bukola Olabode, who allegedly defrauded Point of Sale operators and residents of Ihunbo in the Ipokia Local Government Area while impersonating a police officer, Punch Metro reports.

Our correspondent learnt on Thursday that residents apprehended the suspect on Tuesday, and subsequently handed over to officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who later transferred him to the police at the Idiroko Division.

The Ogun State Police Command revealed to PUNCH Metro that the suspect’s modus operandi involved wearing a police camouflage shirt paired with jeans to execute fraudulent transactions using PoS machines.

The suspect met his Waterloo when he attempted a similar fraudulent act at the PoS stand of an operator named Mary Midoyin.

When his deception was discovered by the operator, the suspect was said to have fled the scene.

PUNCH Metro however gathered that the residents pursued him, leading to his eventual capture.

Odutola said, “The suspect was dressed in a police camouflage shirt, cap, and jeans when he committed the crime. Upon realising his cover had been blown, he quickly made a fake transfer to Mary Midoyin, a PoS operator, and collected N60,000 before fleeing the scene.

“Residents pursued and apprehended the suspect, handing him over to the NSCDC office in Ihunbo before he was transferred to the Idiroko Police Division. He has since confessed to defrauding PoS operators in the community.

“A Samsung phone, a black Itel phone used for the fraud, and a police constabulary warrant card were recovered from the suspect. Additionally, a round-neck T-shirt was found in his possession. He has since been detained.”

In a similar case reported by PUNCH Metro in 2022, a 38-year-old man, identified as Akinyemi Thomas, was arrested for allegedly impersonating a police officer.

The suspect was apprehended on Thursday while wearing a full police camouflage uniform beneath the bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway.