₦airaland Forum

The Lagos State Government has vowed to clamp down on unauthorised enforcement agents purportedly acting on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation tagged M.O.T TASKFORCE.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, made the pledge as he handed over an impostor caught with illegal documents and impersonating an enforcement agent to the Police.

Giwa, who noted that his Office has been assailed with information about the activities of these unauthorised operators, added that the State Government will no longer warn but clamp down on the illegal activities of these dubious operators.


“Lagos is a State governed by laws. The Transportation Sector is regulated by the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018 and does not permit charlatans to operate illegally in any part of the State. My office will continue to go on sting operations and unplanned visits to different areas so as to catch these fake operators, their collaborators and sponsors in the act”, he said.

Giwa enjoined the public to report the activities of any unauthorised enforcement team to the Ministry of Transportation so that it can be forwarded to the Police for possible prosecution.

Recall that on August 11, 2022, the Ministry of Transportation placed an indefinite ban on the activities of its enforcement team, tagged M.O.T TASKFORCE, as part of measures to streamline transport operations in Lagos State for better effectiveness.

Asisat Oshoala is the first African women to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or ���

Michael Morgan exposed David Hundeyin as co-hirelings of Obi’s serial defamation campaign & cyberbullying of dissenting voices.


Michael Morgan failed in his bid to cajole me into promoting their candidate/campaign & in bitterness exposed the fact that he was working along with the campaign’s serial defamer, who he never mentioned in his invitation yet claimed I despised the puerile functional illiterate?

These blackmailers will stop at nothing to tarnish your image once they fail to get an endorsement. My true color is my Patriotism, Character, Competence and Consistency. No is a complete sentence and need not be explained further. You failed again Distinguished as always!

I hope you repent @mikewhoatv from your deceptive ways and stop fanning chaos outside your country. You don’t call people’s integrity to question and not expect a response. You played yourself trying to pit me against others. #BackToSender �

Nigeria's first ever export:

Chadian troops proudly display Proforce's Ara II MRAPS at their 62nd Independence Day Celebration. pic.twitter.com/g0VKXSFMqI

— Defense News Nigeria (@DefenseNigeria) August 16, 2022

FLASH: Progressives Governors' Forum just concluded a meeting with the @OfficialAPCNg Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, Asokoro Abuja.

PF-Fury's panoramic visualization. pic.twitter.com/aoj5lqA4G7

— Defense News Nigeria (@DefenseNigeria) August 16, 2022

Zamfara State Government has has signed a new law that approves death penalty for anyone convicted for banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant in the state

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle disclosed this in a broadcast on Tuesday morning.

According to the Zamfara Governor, the new law is one of the measures adopted by his administration to tackle the act of terrorism experienced in the state and the northwestern region in general.

Matawalle expressed optimism that despite the pockets of attacks recorded here and there by bandits in the state recently, the latest measures are already yielding the intended results.

To that regards, The Zamfara Governor said many informants who have been a major impediment in the fight against banditry have been apprehended and are currently being interrogated before being prosecuted in accordance with the fullest extent of the law.

In Matawalle’s words:

“On the 28th of June this year, I assented to the bill on Prohibition and Punishment for Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Incidental Offences, 2022.

“The law provides a legal instrument for prosecuting banditry-related offenders.

“Based on the new law, anyone found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant is subject to the death penalty.

“Similarly, anyone found guilty of supporting in any manner the aforementioned offences faces a sentence of life in prison, 20 years in jail, or ten years in prison, without the option of a fine.”

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has accepted the apology tendered by Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State over his reference to the Pope while trying to explain the rationale behind his acceptance of the Director General, All Progressive Congress Presidential Campaign Council which has attracted condemnations in some quarters.

Governor Lalong was condemned by the Catholic Church and other Christians alike by the inference and consequently tendered an apology to the church to that effect.

The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Dr Matthew Ishaya Audu, in his homily at 19th the General Assembly of the Archdiocese of Jos held at the St. Louis Parish Jos on Tuesday disclosed that the governor’s apology has been accepted by the Catholic Bishops Conference.

“Your apology is accepted. As you know from our President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, has already accepted your apology and so it goes for all of us. We have accepted it and let’s be sincere,” said the Archbishop.

He said since the Church encourages its members to go into politics, the intention is for him to work at making a difference in his political endeavour in line with the mandate of the church to its members who are in politics.

While assuring him that the church will not disgrace him or allow him to fail, Archbishop Audu asked the governor to advise the ruling party on the need for unity, national integration and carrying all segments of the country along which is the major concern being expressed by Christians on the choice of the President and Vice Presidential Candidate.

He stressed the significance of the Eucharist which he said makes provision for Christians to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and work towards sacrificial service as well as being honest, diligent and kind.

In his address, Governor Lalong reaffirmed his loyalty, commitment and faith in the Catholic Church as well as the desire to always be a good ambassador wherever he finds himself.

Lalong who spoke about the importance of the Eucharist in his life said he continues to draw strength and inspiration from his relationship with God, as well as the teaching and upbringing he has received from the Catholic Church since childhood.

He therefore said the events of the past week relating to his utterance which generated controversy should not be used to judge his love, respect and loyalty to the Catholic Church which strongly teaches forgiveness, tolerance, compassion and repentance.

He said: “When there is unity, love and continuity, we can do better and greater things for the Lord. May I appeal to my colleagues, my brothers and sisters in politics, to take a cue from the example displayed by the Catholic Church by closing ranks and seeing ourselves as God’s workers. That way, we can see Plateau State and Nigeria as God’s field and God’s building where we can all play our roles in fulfilling His purpose.”

Lalong also said his roots as a Catholic have shaped his thinking and enabled him to see governance as a duty to serve the people irrespective of their differences and affiliations. Love, justice, fairness and equity he said are his principal considerations at all times when decisions need to be taken, particularly difficult ones.

“We need this more than before in view of our elections coming up in 2023. I urge the Church to continue to pray for the success of the elections and also encourage the people to participate actively and peacefully. Staying away will only give room for the emergence of bad leaders that may not be suitable for the challenges of nation-building,” he said.

He expressed the appreciation of his Government to the Archbishop and the entire Catholic Archdiocese of Jos for not only partnering with the government in several areas but also offering encouragement, advice and prayers at all times.

In 1949 George Orwell described a nightmarish future in the classic dystopian novel 1984 and one of the most popular quotation in his oeuvre is “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

In the Nigeria of now we can conclude that there are several conspiracies playing out towards the 2023 general elections and the leading propagandists are those claiming to bring about a change, while deploying old antics just to pull a wool over the eyes of the vulnerable masses.

Unfortunately, wittingly or unwittingly, the fourth estate of the realm, the Press/Media, with the explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues are also part of this conspiracy, given the fact that of the 18 different political parties slated to participate in the election, only three (3 or 4 occasionally) are showcased based on the need to engage the roving mob that keeps the 3 in their mention, thus systemically disenfranchising the remaining 15 with substantial values to bring to the political dialogue.

It can be argued that the mainstream media have bills to pay and would need to supply narratives based on demand, but can click baits, trending rhetorics and well worn lame narratives being projected as substance be a solution to the Nigerian political conundrum? In a secular state, should the internal rancor (Muslim/Muslim or North/South debacle) of any political party become subject of national discourse over the pertinent matters of the state of our union? Is populism a solution to our leadership crisis given all that we have gone through in the past years (especially in the past 7 years)?

A Yoruba apothegm states that when brothers come out laughing from a family meeting, they have economized the truth to avoid conflict and have thus, began a war within themselves, however much they may choose to avoid confronting this reality. There has been a tremendous attempt to silence the voices of reason through cyber bullying, blackmail, character assassination via contracting a rogue self acclaimed investigative journalist (on self exile), who specializes in libel and notably the deployment of threat to life in some cases as have been recorded with Reno Omokri, Pastor Poju Oyemade, Sam Omatseye, Deji Adeyanju, Aare Dele Momodu (and many other notable figures) and most recently Femi Anikulapo Kuti, whose family was threatened along side the promise to set the African Shrine ablaze, simply because Peter Obi’s ‘IPOBean’ mob failed to force an endorsement. They also did not spare Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and HE Atiku Abubakar from their unhinged malevolent and vicious online mob attacks.

The Candidate of the Labour Party (ex-PDP Chieftain) HE Peter Obi keeps riding the wave of these online violence and cyber bullying with inciting words that are mostly semiotics of social standing and cultural posturing (half information and pretentious piety). The Cable quoted him as saying— “We’re going to take back Nigeria and give to the Youth” as though he is not part of the same old system he has chosen to target for harassment. He knows quite clearly that the mob he is leading on are void of independent thoughts and were mostly secession agitators amongst other hate groups that have found a comfortable abode under his negligently chaotic, mendacious and divisive campaign, that disturbs public peace within the online community and may soon degenerate into civil disobedience if the coercion and abuse is not curbed.

Nigeria belongs to ALL Nigerians and no one can give to the youth what already belongs to them. The click bait campaign will not upstage the dominant contenders. We must stop raising false hopes and address the real issues. Insults and abuses are no structures and encouraging division must be jettisoned! The well worn political tactics of promising to give to people what already belongs to them is like picking their pocket and displaying what was stolen from them. This is highly manipulative and justifies the reservations some deep thinkers have about Peter Obi’s campaign (which is mostly implemented by his mob in the form of campaign of calumny against dissent). Nigerians do not need deceivers posing as a solution at this point of our polity!

Nigerians are vulnerable now more than ever in yet another quest to solve their leadership crisis and what is substantial is for the candidates to prove to us WHY they should be supported and HOW they will mitigate the critical issues buffeting the development of the nation. On this account the valid criteria for attracting audience would be the presentation of documented manifesto that the people can study and ask crucial questions during the campaign and debates in order to make objective decision in the know.

There are efforts to deliberately lower the bar and reduce logical national discourse to sentimental rhetorics set to further incite and divide the people along ethnic and religious lines. It usually begins with the coordinated attacks on public figures, especially the ones the people rely on for factual and objective engagement on national issues. The irony here is the fact that the real Third Force Candidate —Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) standard bearer— Prince Adewole Adebayo Esq, the AAC’s Omoyele Sowore, NNPP’s Sir Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, have all remained on topic addressing critical issues as well as the Candidates of the Legacy Political Parties APC (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and PDP (HE Atiku Abubakar). None of the supporters of these prominent contenders have gone rogue enough to threaten the unity of Nigeria or the freedom of expression and association of others like the ‘Obi supporters’ (The Militia Wing of Peter Obi’s Campaign) have chosen to do so brazenly.

In his Theory of Moral Sentiments, written a century and half before Collingwood’s memoir, the great economist and social theorist Adam Smith defined why a civilized society is not a war of all against all – because it is based on sympathy. It is my considered view that empathy, responsibility and conscientiousness are all being defenestrated in the political amoral macabre dance, because there are no consequences for political recklessness in Nigeria, despite the rising security vulnerability of our clime.

No matter where you are in the world, you will agree that it is very easy to identify a Nigerian a mile off. It is either by their demeanor, dressing, manner of speech or use of words. When in a business meeting, Nigerians exhibit their nationality by making statements like, “We are the first ever to do so and so” or “We are the only one in this market” My candidate is the Only candidate on the Ballot” etc. These statements as well as others, spare not the people in high ranking positions neither does it respect social stratification. They are symptoms of a religious annexation to fallacies and the undying love for Monopoly and recognition. 

Our firms, government as well as individuals, seek dominion across spectrum. Those in the business sector want to dominate the market, dictate pricing and profit perpetually from the market. Little wonder the aim of most is usurping political power enough to own everything that works across sectors. It explains why politicians own/fund media outfits, since the very first leg to ruling the market is to control group minds, beliefs and ideas of the masses. The same way politicians use public funds to stabilize the financial status of their private firms under the guise of ‘saving it in the business they trust’ and brag with this fraudulent unethical behavior during campaign to the cheers of copiously ignorant unfortunate ethnically bigoted souls.

Public intellectuals and authors have argued that monopoly, however desirable is the failure of capitalism. When Monopoly is ignited (especially in our clime, with the aid of government), the consumer no longer has a choice, prices escalate and innovation plunges with the forceful gag on the voice of the consumer public. Since we are being factual, looking around you today, you will see glaringly that this is the summary of what is happening across spectrum, while our government pay lip service to creating enabling environment or ease of doing business on paper. The same can be said about the folksy and deceitful “From Consumption to Production” campaign void of any meaningful framework beyond exciting the ignorant masses on yet another trajectory of forlorn hope.

Majority of Nigerians are susceptible to the entertainment reality TV shows brings, which is more like a desired bride of the Post-Modernistic age, where people embrace the simulation of a simulation just to avoid the harshness of reality. This need not require statistics because we know this is true. DSTV rakes in Millions if not more annually with their Big Brother reality TV show. A lot of our youth erroneously believe reality shows are about reality but forget that they are principally shows, designed for entertainment and profit. This has become a culture because we make heroes of flawed people in our society and create narratives around them as though it were some game we can vote on.

Our lives have since become reality shows, while lurking behind avatars and social-media handles (surrogates). The more uncertain the real world gets the more people long for escape. We often take refuge behind our surrogate lives on social-media, where we can do the impossible virtually to compensate for our failures and uncertainties in reality. It is no surprise that a nasty, flawed, bad behaved Facebook/Twitter/Instagram personality living through daily drama and tragedy will gain more followers on Twitter and Facebook simply because people love flawed (hilarious) fictional characters they can jeer and root for.

Brands are not left behind. They will move their products and services cum promotions to the pages/handles that get the attention of the crowd for visibility, endorsement, exposure and impressions. The same theory holds true for train-wrecks and badly behaved characters on reality TV shows who get more votes to stay on, while morally good characters are evicted.

Our world has changed indeed as superhero movies no longer attract huge views based on the goody two shoes act of protagonist but for their flaws, drama (in their lives) and the threat posed by the villain in the movie. It will interest you also that this explains why men wants good girls, who will become bad girls for them alone in the confines of their bedroom. Likewise, why ladies want bad boys who will be good to them and them alone. Something in us just want the intrigue, drama and adrenaline pump from escapades and wild adventures that take our breathe away.

The reality however remains that we all love to watch this play out in other people’s lives than be a part of the drama ourselves. The dichotomy however presents itself when we are confronted with the need to vote political leaders. We somehow cannot seem to make that transition enough to understand clearly that our culture of choosing characters on reality TV shows is confined only to the screens and not in real life. Fundamentally, politics have real life consequences.

Nobody reserves the rights to tell you who to vote for, not your Pastors, Imams, Governor, Traditional rulers or Celebrities (custodian of societal behavior). It is your constitutional right to choose freely without coercion and not to be discriminated against based on that inalienable right to choose. Cyber bullying remains a crime in Nigeria and the authorities are aware of the current development and will start taking action soonest against known extremists constituting a nuisance online with threats to the life of others.

The valid directive remains taking -personal responsibility to study the options and decide in the know based on Competence, Capacity, Capability, Credibility, Character, Clarity, and Conscientiousness. Nigeria belongs to all of us and all forms of extremism MUST be shunned along religious and ethnic lines. Identity politics of hate is never a useful approach to lifting any nation out of political doldrums and any individual or political party deploying this clearly should not be encouraged with an engagement at our collective expense.

John Boyd’s framework for action in conflict is highly recommended here as there is a cause to; OBSERVE (collecting data and analyzing same) across the sectors of our economy, ORIENT (Frame the analyzed data on issue based basis) along the confines of global Culture and best practices, knowledge and the application of education and experience, which makes informed DECISION (Strategy) easier towards picking a course of action. It is until then that we can simulate (TEST) our idea before taking it to the market with ACTION. The figurative primitive animism of the attribution of sentience to inanimate political figures on a trial and error basis will only claim more lives of innocent souls as done once before. It is time to put an end to the elect and regret cycle of the politics of ethnic extraction and religious bigotry as mired in identity politics of hate.

The Children are watching and absorbing and it is incumbent on us (custodian of societal behavior and responsible and active citizens) to take seriously the prayer in our National Anthem that admonishes that we pray to the “God of Creation to direct our noble cause, and guide our leaders right, while helping our youth the truth to know.” Talking at each other, hating on each other and dividing the people along ethnic lines only favor our collective enemy (social injustice). We can put an end to this and recalculate our coordinates towards building a nation where Peace and Justice shall reign.


Segun Awosanya (SEGALINK) is the CEO of a futuristic Brand, Media, Tech, Research, Business & Strategy Consultancy firm (Aliensmedia), The President/Founder of Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation (SIAF) and the Convener of #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Advocacy.

Thanks to what now amounts to be one of the most sophisticated maritime surveillance security architecture in the world, there was not a single recorded piracy attack in Nigeria's territorial waters for the first time in 30 years in the first quater of 2022.

Power projection: NNS Kada in Guinea Bissau offloading weapons and equipment for Nigerian troops on a stabilization support mission in Guinea Bissau.

NNS Kada's core mission is to load and transport cargo, helicopters, vehicles of all types, and troops to a combat area. https:///SVJMt2syxW

NNS KADA is the biggest LST in Africa. It can launch amphibious vehicles via a stern gate as well as land vehicles to a beach or causeway over a bowramp. Its offload cargo lift capacity includes 29 tanks and over 2500 troops and their equipment. https:///8YvHJTmHVv

Nigerian Navy ship Kada arrives Port of Bissau

Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA on Saturday 13 August 2022 arrived in Port of Bissau after a seven days voyage from Lagos.

The sail to Guinea Bissau was in line with the government directive for the Nigerian Navy to convey military hardware meant for its own troops in carrying out a stabilization mission in Guinea Bissau.

NNS KADA’s Ship Company was received by the Nigerian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, Amb John James, the ECOWAS representative in Guinea Bissau, Prof Hamidu Boli, Deputy Force Commander Colonel Antoine Kore amongst other dignitaries.

In a statement by the Commander, Command Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Edward Yeibo, he said during the reception of NNS KADA, Amb John James was filled with joy in receiving a vessel of such magnitude in Guinea Bissau.

He added that Amb John James expressed appreciation that the arrival of NNS KADA to Guinea Bissau was a strong indication that Nigeria is very much concerned in the wellbeing of her counterparts in ECOWAS and Africa as whole.

The statement reads: “Amb John James used the opportunity to assure the citizens of Guinea Bissau that the presence of NNS KADA in Guinea Bissau was not for drumbeats of war as against the speculations by the public, but rather the presence of NNS KADA was a supportive role to Guinea Bissau to achieve stability, peace and order and economic development.

He reiterated that “it does not matter whether Nigeria as a Nation has problems or not, we should always be there for our ECOWAS counterparts.”

He therefore charged the Nigerian Contingents in Guinea Bissau to ensure that the delivered military hardware was used for the supportive roles which it was meant for.”

Similarly, the ECOWAS representative in Guinea Bissau, Prof Hamidu Boli thanked the Nigerian government for once again showing why she is the giant of Africa for deploying a vessel of such gigantic size to Guinea Bissau.

He added that Nigeria has always shown that she will be behind the stability and integration of ECOWAS countries. He also appreciated Nigeria for the show of concern to all ECOWAS troubled countries.

The Commanding Officer NNS KADA, Navy Captain Reginald Adoki, also thanked the Nigerian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde for the effusive reception accorded the Ships’ Company.

He disclosed that the voyage of NNS KADA with military hardware was in fulfillment of the Federal Government’s directive to transport military hardware for ECOWAS Support Stabilization Mission in Guinea Bissau.
In this article

The Court of Appeal on Friday in Abuja, ruled in favour of a factional Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi, in a case between him, the Peoples Democratic Party and two others.

According to the lawyers on the case, the implication of the ruling in the suit filed by Sowunmi against the party, Ladi Adebutu and co, is that Sowunmi remains the candidate of the main opposition party in Ogun State unless otherwise ruled.

The Appellant, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, had complained to the lower court that the Ogun State Exco of the party acted in bias when they allegedly purchased nomination and interest forms for Adebutu, the 3rd respondent, without doing same for the other candidates, who purchased the forms legally, including himself.

The lower court was said to have hastily declined jurisdiction, reportedly relying on Section 285(14) Para (A)-(C) of the 1999 Constitution.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court, the appellant, Sowunmi, immediately appealed the decision through his lawyer, Mawah Monday.

Consequent upon the instruction, his Lawyer lodged an appeal and formulated three grounds of Appeal, which were allowed on Friday.

The Court of Appeal judgement that lasted over one hour, presided over by Hon. Justice Chide Nwaoma Uwa, on Friday, allowed the appeal and set aside the ruling of the Lower Court.

We visited Ita-Elewa Primary Health Centre, Ikorodu LGA in Lagos state.

We reported that they are well equipped, they have solar energy that provides a constant power supply, and well-staffed.

We commend Ikorodu LGA, @NphcdaNG, and @followlasg & @LSMOH for the optimal health service delivery provided to residents of the Ita-Elewa community

topcatking:
Obi's observation is true.

Interim Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, was yesterday in Awka prevented from moving out of his hotel room to monitor the Anambra governorship election.

el-Rufai told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ‘Finotel Hotel’ where he lodged that some armed men of the State Security Service (SSS) restrained him from moving out of the hotel to monitor the election.

He said:“I arrived in Awka by 7 p.m. on Friday and had a brief session with the APC candidate, Sen. Chris Ngige. When I came out to have my dinner, I saw three heavily armed SSS officers at the hotel.

“I asked them why they were following me; they told me that they were protecting me because Awka is not safe.

“I told them that I came with my own security. This morning, as I was about to have breakfast, they blocked the corridor and tried to restrain me from going out but I pushed by and went to the restaurant to eat.

“After my breakfast, I will be going to the APC Situation Room in town to monitor the election. I am being unlawfully detained here,’’ he said.

NAN reports that at this point, one of the SSS men entered the restaurant and confiscated the reporter’s tape recorder and deleted the recorded interview before returning it to her.

When contacted on telephone, the Director of SSS in the state, Mr. A.U. Okeiyi, confirmed the report, saying that el-Rufai was being protected.

“el-Rufai is not an ordinary person. If anything happens to him, they will blame the security,’’ .he said.

Heavily armed security men were seen guarding the premises of the hotel.

Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, reacted angrily to the development.

He said the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had no business in Anambra State on the day of election.

The governor said genuinely accredited observers are not hindered by anybody.

“Accredited observers are moving around freely. But I am not sure el-Rufai was accredited by INEC as an observer.

“Like I said before, he has no business or any reason to be in Anambra at this time. All he is doing is dragging the name of Anambra in the mud.

“I can’t go to Katsina and monitor a governorship election. This is a federation. Even if he belongs to a particular party, the party has chieftains in this state and people of the southeast extraction.

“People should know that we have one country and we must build it for our children. el- Rufai has no reason to be in Anambra State.

“Quote me anywhere. I can’t go to Katsina State or Kano or where ever he may come from and go and monitor elections there. He should stay there”.

The Federal High Court on Monday ordered the State Security Service to apologise to a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, and to pay him N2 million in damages for unlawful detention.

This follows the events of November 15 and 16 2013, during the last Anambra governorship elections, when SSS officials detained and harassed Mr. El-Rufai at the Finotel in Awka.

Dissatisfied with his treatment, and believing that the conduct of the SSS had no basis in law, Mr. El-Rufai approached the court for redress.

The case was listed as FHC/AWK/CS/310/13, with the SSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.

Delivering judgment in Awka on Monday, Justice Ibrahim Bature Gafai held that the SSS has no statutory powers under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 or under any Nigerian law to detain Mr. El-Rufai without showing cause to a court of competent jurisdiction.

The court therefore ordered the SSS to publish an apology in two national dailies for the unlawful and unconstitutional violation of his liberty.

In addition to the apology and monetary damages, the court also made significant pronouncements regarding the restriction of movement during elections.

The court declared that the Respondents have no powers under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 or under any Nigerian law to either impose a general restriction on movement or restrict the applicant’s constitutional right of freedom of movement as enshrined in Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 on account of the Anambra State Gubernatorial election that took place on the 16th day of November, 2013 or any other election.

This decision has massive implications for the way government agencies routinely attempt to restrict movement of persons, especially during elections.