₦airaland Forum

Human rights activist and Convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore has denied the postponement of the planned #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

Sowore made this known on Wednesday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, describing the report purporting the postponement as fake news.

He wrote: “PLEASE IGNORE THE DESPERATE FAKE ANNOUNCEMENT IN CIRCULATION THAT #EndBadGovernance REVOLT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. IT IS FALSE! #nogoingback #DaysOfRage #RevolutionNow.”

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Nigerians are set to take to the streets in large numbers for a ten-day protest starting August 1 to voice their dissatisfaction with the hardship caused by the policies of President Bola Tinubu's government and poor governance generally in the country.

However, a recent circular on Wednesday announced a change in plans, shifting the protest to October 1, 2024, to align with the country's Independence Day celebrations.

But the #RevolutionNow convener, who is one of those at the forefront of the campaign for the protest, dismissed the news as fake.

There have been moves by government authorities and people loyal to the government to persuade and on other occasions threaten people not to join the protests.

For instance, a group of thugs loyal to President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday stormed a popular market in Lagos Island, Lagos State to warn traders and residents against joining the nationwide protests.

SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday how the group of thugs captured in a viral video used a loudspeaker to intimidate traders at the market, threatening them with harsh repercussions if they fail to meet their demands.

The video, which has been circulating on social media, captures the thugs moving through the market, issuing their threats to the traders.

“Things should not get destroyed in Lagos. If they close your shops, what will you do?” one of them said.

“We dare anyone to come out on Thursday to join the protest. This is just a warning.”

There was chaos at the house of representatives on Wednesday over a bill seeking to raise the ways and means cash advances from five percent to 10 percent.

Opposition parties staged a walk out during plenary after an amendment by Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, that the ways and means be reduced to two percent was rejected.

The existing law provides that the advance by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) must not exceed five percent of the previous year’s revenue of the federal government.

Some elders and stakeholders in Northern Nigeria have announced their full support for the planned nationwide hunger protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria scheduled to hold from August 1 to 10.

The elders and the stakeholders who made their position know in a statement signed by Prof. Usman Yusuf; ⁠Hajia Najatu Muhammad; ⁠⁠Mallam Salihu Lukman; and ⁠Dr. Umar Ardo, also made seven demands to the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government.

In the statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the Northern elders and stakeholders said that Nigeria had long been facing unprecedented challenges of insecurity, excruciating poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases, high cost of living, all on account of bad governance and corruption in public offices.

They said, “We acknowledge that the primary purpose of any government is to secure life and property, and enhance the welfare of its citizens.

“Any regime that cannot guarantee these basic rights loses all legal and moral authority of being in power, and would naturally incur the wrath of citizens. It can therefore only remain in office more by default than by public consent.

“This seems to be the state our dear country, Nigeria, is drifting towards. Over the years, successive governments at all levels, including the incumbent ones, fell short of delivering the requisite leadership.

“Consequently, Nigerians have been thrown into a state of social dislocation that has plunged citizens, especially the youths, into disillusionment, disappointment, frustration and hopelessness.

“To press home their legitimate demands concerning the cost of living crisis, insecurity and the worrisome drift in the ship of state, Nigerian youths have resolved to go on a 10 day nationwide protest from the 1st to 10th August, 2024.

“We therefore wrote this special text to state our position concerning this resolve to protest and the attitude of the government to it.

“First, we want to affirm the constitutionally protected right of all citizens to assemble and to protest. We also acknowledge that the cause for protest against the system is valid and justifiable.

“We wish to state clearly that we firmly stand by our youths in their resolve to exercise their right to protest.

“Second, we call on the federal government to be pragmatic in its approach to the resolution of the crisis if it hopes to amicably resolve and mitigate the risks associated with mass protests.”

They said “To this end we recommend that the government immediately takes the following steps: Engage in dialogue:

“Identify and directly engage with the youth leaders and protesters to understand and address their grievances.

“Outsourcing this responsibility to others, such as traditional, religious, labour, civil society leaders is not going to work.

“The use of state forces to intimidate, cajole and harass protesters can only further escalate an already volatile situation.

“We have recently seen that in the EndSARS protests. Engagement remains the best and most effective solution.

“Implement reforms: Sincerely address the demands of the protesters by implementing meaningful reforms, demonstrating goodwill and a commitment to change;

“Support youth empowerment: Invest in youth development programs, education, innovation, entrepreneurship initiatives.

“Enhance economic development: Implement policies that would enhance general economic development of the country;

“Improve governance: Enhance transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in governance against personalized leadership, tackling corruption and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens.

“Ensure security: Ensure that the state security forces respect the rights of protesters by allowing them access for peaceful assembly without interference, intimidation or harassment and protect them against any harm;

“Lead by example: The government and its leadership should lead by example, demonstrating sacrifice, integrity, accountability and transparency so as to inspire trust and confidence.

“Having been in the trenches himself leading several protests, from the NADECO days to 2014, President Tinubu knows more than others the value of protest.

“To the protesting youths, we want to assure you that we understand and support your decision to exercise your constitutional right to peaceful protests in demanding good governance and accountability from your leaders.

“We believe that this is a legitimate and necessary step towards reclaiming your future and ensuring a better Nigeria for us all.

“As elders, while we stand shoulder to shoulder with you on this, we urge you to remain peaceful and law-abiding during these protests, avoiding any actions that may be misconstrued as violent, harmful, destructive, offensive or threatening to public peace.

“We also call on you to engage in dialogue if the government extends a hand of fellowship to you in addressing the root causes of your discontent and grievances.”

They stressed that by taking these measures, the government can address the underlying issues driving the protests, reduce tensions, create a more stable and prosperous future and avoid disruption and chaos.

“We call on our leaders and governments at all levels to be responsive and demonstrate commitment and respect for the freedom of all citizens to express themselves freely without any provocation as provided for in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.

“We believe that together we can build a Nigeria that works for all its citizens, regardless of age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.”

Some hired ‘Say No To Protest’ demonstrators have lamented they were left stranded after being used for a pro-government rally in Abuja.

In a video posted online, disgruntled President Bola Tinubu’s supporters whined about being stranded without food and water.

“Tinubu said they should call us to give us support and that he doesn’t want protest. He said he would give us support. We are here very early in the morning, no food no water, the drivers were left stranded without being paid,” one of the hired protesters said.

She added, “We are here, men, women and children all abandoned. Nigeria has no president. We don’t have a leader.”

When asked if they would now join the nationwide protests expected to kick off on Thursday, the women said, “Yes, we will join the protest.”

Spokespersons Bayo Onanuga and Ajuri Ngelale for Mr Tinubu’s government did not immediately respond to Peoples Gazette’s request for a comment on the allegation.

Protesters, portrayed as representing Nigeria’s 36 states, gathered at Eagles Square on Monday, holding ‘Say No To Protest’ placards to support the government’s stance on the #EndBadGovernance protest over worsening hardships in Nigeria.

Since nationwide protest was announced for August 1 to 10, Mr Tinubu has swiftly approved trucks of rice to states, and signed the N70,000 minimum wage bill into law in a bid to placate Nigerians.

JUST IN : Women, Children are the Elderly have taken to the street of Brono the capital of maiduguri to protest against Hunger, Nigerians how did it come to this ?

#EndBadGovernanceProtest
#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Northerners Igbos Nigerian Police Seyi Law Chidinma

Sokoto-based Islamic cleric Shiekh Bello Yabo says President Bola Tinubu disclosed to clerics and traditional rulers that he bought his way to the presidency.

In a video of one of his sermons, Mr Yabo said Mr Tinubu disclosed this when he met clerics and traditional rulers at the villa last week.

“Tinubu has really impressed me; he invited all the traditional rulers from the North, West and East and told them bluntly that ‘I bought this seat I’m on with money’,” Mr Yabo said.

He added, “Tinubu has never impressed me like now for coming out to tell the naked truth. Whoever pays the piper dictates the tune; isn’t Tinubu telling the truth?”

Mr Yabo derided those who sold their votes during the 2023 presidential elections, adding that all they got in exchange for their votes had now been exhausted as they suffered the consequences of their decision at the polls.

“You have eaten the spaghetti and macaroni you have been given to vote, and now it is finished, it’s all over, so what next? Tinubu says he spent huge sums from the primary elections to the actual presidential election.”

“It’s all over now; let us pray and wait for the next election in 2027. If you like, collect his money again and vote for him, and I assure you, you’ll remain in pain, that’s all,” Mr Yabo said.

Spokespersons for Mr Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale and Bayo Onanuga could not be reached for comments on the cleric’s claim. While Mr Ngelale’s contact was unreachable, Mr Onanuga answered calls twice and dropped them immediately.

The cleric’s remark comes a few days after Mr Tinubu, at a meeting with clerics and traditional rulers across the country, said he funded and fought his election from his personal money and no cabal support.

“I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune. At some point, the odds were against me; banks were locked. But Allah, the Almighty God, said I will be the president,” Mr Tinubu said at last week’s meeting.

Happening now at MTN office festac town pic.twitter.com/jkSDgpKSpZ

— Mila Mila 🇮🇱 🇺🇸 💙 🌏 (@MilamanOfor) July 29, 2024

VIDEO: Protesters block major road leading to Abujahttps://t.co/01A9tx1P2Z pic.twitter.com/Y3Lx6NcSAj

— Premium Times (@PremiumTimesng) July 29, 2024

Thousands of Nigerians woke up on Sunday to find their SIM cards barred by MTN Group Limited, sparking widespread outrage.

The telecommunications giant claimed that the affected subscribers had failed to link their National Identification Number (NIN) with their SIM cards.

In response, scores of disgruntled subscribers stormed MTN offices in major cities, including Osogbo in Osun State; Ikeja, and Festac town in Lagos State; Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Warri in Delta State.

Viral videos online show protesters venting their frustration and anger over the sudden disconnection. The protests highlight the frustration and disruption caused by the mass disconnection, with many subscribers demanding a resolution to the issue."

The disconnection comes as Nigerian regulators pressure telecoms companies to implement the NIN-linkage policy introduced in December 2020.

In February 2024, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) told telecoms companies to bar subscribers who failed to link their phone numbers to their NIN on or before February 28, 2024. The deadline was extended to April 15, 2024, and later July 31, 2024.

SaharaReporters also reported that Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) on Sunday accused telecoms companies of sabotaging the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Sunday, titled 'Sabotage By Telecoms Companies,' Adegboruwa urged the NCC to take immediate action and protect the interests of subscribers.

The statement accused telecoms companies of disconnecting subscribers for flimsy reasons.

“For the past few days, some telecoms companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for very flimsy and untenable reasons. Some allege lack of NIN registration or linking while some didn’t not give any reason at all,” it said.

However, rthe Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria (ALTON), Engr Gbenga Adebayo, has denied the allegation.

Adebayo described the allegation as unfounded in an interview with Vanguard, saying it is the “funniest allegation anybody can make”.

Yobe Youths Distance Themselves From Tinubu Solidarity Rally, Say It Was Staged With Hired Crowds From Kano

Youths from Yobe State have taken to social media to distance themselves from a solidarity rally held in Nguru town, Yobe State, in support of President Bola Tinubu's government.

After photos of the rally surfaced on social media on Sunday, social media influencers and activists from Yobe claimed that the organisers and participants were not from the state.

They alleged that the rally attendees were Kannywood artists who had travelled from Kano to participate.

The youths vehemently denied involvement in the Nguru town rally supporting President Tinubu.

Sources reveal that Abdullahi Al-hikmah, a traditional medicine vendor from Kano State, has been implicated as the mastermind behind the solidarity rally in Nguru.

His Facebook profile lists him as the CEO of Al-Hikma Islamic and Traditional Medicine in Kano. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Abdullahi disclosed that Nguru is his hometown, confirming his presence in the town at the weekend.

“Today, by the grace of God, one of our staff members of the center of #Al_hikma_Medicine, known as Aminu M Ahmad (Babanne) was married in Guru town #Yobe State. We travelled from Kano city to Nguru our home town to attend this wedding that took place today around 10 am.

“We are praying that Allah gives them peace and good offspring that will learn from the teachings of Islam. All praise is due to Allah. Keep them in your prayers,” he said.

Attempts to contact Abdullahi for his reaction were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to text messages sent to the mobile numbers listed on his Facebook page.

“Now Yobe youths are massively reporting his account,” a source said about Abdullahi Al-hikmah’s accout.

@Baash_Kano posted on his handle on Sunday said the crowd was rented.

“Lazy jobless, rented youths having solidarity rally for Tinubu in Yobe State.

“Yobe is the most poorest state in the Northeastern region. In the whole state, there's no any project initiated and commissioned by this administration.”

“Leadership is not about being in charge, it's about taking care of those in your charge.

According to some of the soldiers who spoke to SaharaReporters, the military personnel are also affected by hardship and the bad economy.

Some Nigerian Army personnel fighting in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast say they are in support of Nigerians taking to the streets to protest the prevailing hardship, hunger, and bad governance.



A nationwide protest in Nigeria themed “End Bad Governance in Nigeria” has been planned for August 1 to 10.



According to some of the soldiers who spoke to SaharaReporters, the military personnel are also affected by hardship and the bad economy.



They claimed the current government of Bola Tinubu and previous ones had impoverished those of them in the lower cadre.



The soldiers noted that to meet their basic financial needs, they have to sell their cars, televisions, housing properties and others.



“We soldiers here in Borno are in full support of this protest due to the hardship in the country, everything has now gone up in prices. Our salaries can no longer sustain these current prices right now, we need urgent intervention. If not, things will gradually go out of control, many soldiers cannot longer pay for their children NECO, WAEC fees not even talk of university or higher institutions fees,” one of the soldiers told SaharaReporters.



“There's a hunger in all army barracks right now, soldiers are selling their property for them to survive till end of the months, this has been happening since January 2024. We need palliatives in the barracks as well. Please the general public should help us too, this is the right time the rich people should help we soldiers.



“All Nigerians should know there is hunger in the barracks, we are human beings like every Nigerians, our salaries and allowances are too poor. Again, we’re in support of this peaceful protest that's coming on 1st of August 2024. The current situation in the country is very unfortunate and so worrisome.”



Another army personnel added, “Sir about 97% of soldiers are in support of this protest coming up on August 1st due to the poor salaries and allowances. Only the corrupt Generals and commanders are against the protest, we junior soldiers are also victims of bad government, we cannot feed our families cause our salaries don’t last a week. Nigerians should come out and protest, it's their right, the suffering is enough and unacceptable anymore.”

Portable sends a strong message to Gov Dapo Abiodun over his Range Rover that broke down earlier today due to bad road 😭😂

Portable sends a strong message to Gov Dapo Abiodun over his Range Rover that broke down earlier today due to bad road 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/m1VJSPj4Jn

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) July 9, 2024

A former member of the Nigerian Senate, Ita Enang, has urged the National Assembly to file a lawsuit against the federal government over the signing of treaties.

He was reacting to the recent signing of the Samoa agreement by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

The agreement, generally referred to as the Samoa agreement, was signed on 28 June at the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.

Details of the agreement indicated that the partnership is between the European Union and its member states on one hand, and members of OACPCS on the other.

Negotiations on the agreement began in 2018, and it was signed on 15 November 2018 by all 27 EU member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS states.

The African Regional Protocol on the matter consists of two parts – framework for cooperation and areas of cooperation that include inclusive and sustainable economic growth, environmental and human rights protection, among others.

Reacting Tuesday on Channels TV’s Political Paradigm, Enang said an agreement pursuant to a treaty must be made to pass through the National Assembly before being signed by the government.

He alleged that since 2002 the federal government had not been carrying the National Assembly along.

He said: “Even if it is an agreement pursuant to a treaty, so long as the interest of Nigeria is involved, it has to be laid before the National Assembly. I’m urging the National Assembly to take this matter to court.

“It’s not fighting the executive, because it will be helping Nigeria to determine whether all these treaties from 2002 till today, which is 22 years, which Nigeria has been signing without it being ratified by the National Assembly, some binding states, which those states are not a party to, because treaties of a certain character have to also pass through to the state houses of assembly and be approved by them before it can be finally passed by the National Assembly.

“They should take this matter for interpretation, either to the Supreme Court, its original jurisdiction. The National Assembly now has committees on treaties, which are standing committees, not in my time when it was ad hoc, just to address.

“The National Assembly or the Attorney General of the Federation, just like they have done in certain cases like the local government should go to court to interpret whether treaties ought to be laid before the National Assembly before they can become a law and if it is not, what is the legal status of the treaties, conventions and protocols which Nigeria has entered into, even the ones that grant loans, because if it is not lawful, then it is at the risk of countries or institutions, which has granted Nigeria money.”

Enang served as Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Legislative Duties.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to immediately suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement until the controversial clauses are addressed and spelt out.



This directive was given due to a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by 88 members concerning several backlashes that had trailed the signature of the country to the international treaty.



It was learnt that on Tuesday, a member of the House, Aliyu Madaki, drew attention to the clause which highlights “gender equality” and describes it as a Trojan horse which could violate the morals of the country.



The House also mandated its relevant committees to investigate the controversial provisions of the agreement.



Controversy has enveloped the Samoa Agreement signed by the Federal Government with the European Union, with many frowning upon what they thought was the recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights by the Nigerian government.



Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had earlier clarified that Nigeria does not recognise same-sex marriage.



The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, in a statement, had emphasised that the agreement does not impose LGBTQ rights as a prerequisite for Nigeria's acceptance of a $150billion loan.





He pointed out that the agreement respects Nigeria's local laws and sovereignty, including the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2023 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).





According to the NBA President, if the agreement had mandated acceptance of LGBT rights, they would have advised against such terms to protect Nigeria's sovereignty.



He reiterated that the Samoa agreement did not compromise existing legislation or undermine Nigeria's sovereignty.

Nigeria is burning through its foreign exchange reserves at a rate not seen in four years, raising concerns that the central bank is depleting its dollar holdings to support the naira after pledging it would allow the currency to float more freely.

Liquid reserves declined 5.6% since March 18, when the naira started its rebound from record-low levels against the dollar, to $31.7 billion as of April 12, according to Bloomberg’s calculations based on the latest available data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

That’s the biggest decline in a similar period since April 2020, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

At the beginning of the year, the naira went down to about N1,900 to a dollar. Many speculators had expected the value of the naira to continue its free fall. However, the naira has been gaining strength lately and has gone up to about N1,100 to a dollar.

Bloomberg reports that the development came after the Central Bank of Nigeria introduced measures to improve liquidity, attract capital inflows and allow the market to determine the naira’s exchange rate. As part of the reforms, the CBN pledged to clear a backlog of pent-up dollar demand.

“The CBN does appear to be using its FX reserves to clear the valid backlog, and return the naira to a realistic exchange rate,” said Charles Robertson, the London-based head of macro strategy at FIM Partners. “My assumption is they hope to encourage others – local and foreign investors – to start investing in the local currency, and return private sector liquidity to the foreign exchange market.”

Nigeria still has a sizable cushion of foreign-exchange reserves, buoyed by a rally in oil prices and inflows from multi-lateral loans. Gross reserves of around $32.6 billion cover about six months’ worth of imports, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The central bank said last month it had cleared a backlog of overdue dollar purchase agreements estimated at $7 billion since the beginning of the year.

That was built over years as the central bank pegged its currency against the dollar, leading to a scarcity of foreign currency that deterred foreign portfolio investment. However, it’s unclear how much dollar debt the CBN retains on its books.

The publication of the central bank’s financial statements late last year showed it had securities lending agreements with JP Morgan Chase & Co. for $7 billion and another $500 million with Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

It is not clear if those obligations have been settled. A spokesperson for the central bank didn’t immediately respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment on the telephone.

The FX reserves have fallen despite a surge of inflows into capital markets following 600 basis points of cumulative interest rate hikes in February and March, which increased the allure of Nigerian local debt. Foreign portfolio inflows exceeded $1 billion in February, bringing total receipts so far this year to at least $2.3 billion, according to the central bank.

“The CBN will also be aware that new inflows from Afreximbank, the World Bank, and a possible eurobond, plus the benefit of higher oil prices and a likely return of remittances via official and semi-official channels (rather than bitcoin) will allow reserves to stabilize or rise again,” Robertson said.

A Kano State High Court has affirmed the suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The court, while granting an exparte order also restrained Ganduje from further parading himself as a member of the party.

The order was granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, on Tuesday, a copy of which was cited by Daily Trust.

The order followed an exparte motion filed Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani by their counsel Ibrahim Sa’ad.

The plaintiffs, who identified as executive members of APC Ganduje ward, said they brought the motion on behalf of the executive members of the ward.

Gwanjo, who identified as the party’s ward Legal Adviser, was the one that announced the suspension of Ganduje two days ago.

Subsequently, the court ordered, that henceforth, Ganduje should desist from presiding over all affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC.

Details later…

Veronica Anyim, a member of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) in Abuja, was in church on Sunday morning to testify, having bagged a law degree.

Things did not go as planned, as a clip from her testimony has now gone viral, with many dubbing her a liar and manufacturer of false testimonies. In this clip, she says she obtained a law degree from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), but Paul Enenche, the church founder, interrupts her to accuse her of lying.

“Degree in what?” He asks. “What programme? What is the name of the degree? Like, medicine is MBBS. What kind of degree is it?”

Anyim responds, “BSc, sir. BSc in law, sir.”

“So, the testimony is a lie. There is nothing like a BSc in law,” Enenche remarks. “You either have LLB or BL. It’s a lie. Please go back to your seat. Is that how lawyers speak English? Please, anybody who comes to this altar to share a testimony that is not true, you do it at the risk of yourself. We are not playing here. We are not faking anything here. When she started that testimony and was talking law, I knew there was nothing like law.”

CLAIM 1: There is nothing like BSc in Law

VERIFICATION: A Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree is typically awarded to college or university graduates upon completion of a science or technology-based course, which usually takes four years to study. It differs from Bachelors in Art (BA), which is awarded to graduates of social sciences, humanities, arts and others.

READ ALSO: FACT-CHECK: Video Showing Nigerians Looting Goats Is Old

However, LLB, the degree lawyers earn upon graduation, originates from Latin: Legum Baccalaureus. It existed long before BA and BSc and continues to remain the most popular way to refer to law degrees.

VERDICT: True. Enenche was right about what the degree is called.

CLAIM 2: Veronica Anyim did not have a law degree

VERIFICATION: To verify Enenche’s claim, FIJ reviewed NOUN’s Comprehensive Graduation List for the 2024 convocation. In this document, the newspaper found Anyim Veronica Nnenna, with Matric Number NOU133971176, listed as an LLB recipient. She bagged third-class honours.


Graduation list with Anyim’s name highlighted. Source: NOUN
FIJ also found her project topic filed under NOUN’s Projects Administration System (PAS). Her topic was The Legal Framework Regulating International Peace-Keeping, Building And The Role Of Nigeria Police Force.


Anyim’s project on NOUN portal
Further checks by FIJ confirmed NOUN held its convocation ceremony in Abuja on Saturday, and Anyim posted pictures of her in a convocation gown celebrating her birth month and graduation.


Excerpt from Anyim’s Facebook page
FIJ also learned that she worked as a police officer in Abuja while undergoing her degree programme.

Her law degree is also recognised by the Nigerian Law School, which has been admitting NOUN graduates since 2022.

VERDICT: False. Enenche was wrong to claim Anyim’s degree was fabricated.

Awka— A pregnant woman, Mrs. Mmesoma Odili, from Umuosiegbo village, Umunya in Oyi local government area of Anambra State, is in a devastating mood following the loss of her pregnancy during eight days of detention at the Zone 13 Police Headquarters, Ukpo, Anambra State.

It was gathered that the police had to arrest Mmesoma when they could not lay hands on her husband over a land dispute in the area.

An indigene of the community, Mr. Jude Ikeanyionwu, who said the dispute has torn the area apart, called on the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and other stakeholders in the state, to intervene in the worrisome situation before it leads to the loss of more lives.

Ikeanyionwu said: “Mmesoma’s husband is a member of the community’s vigilante group and one of those opposed to the illegal attempt to sell our communal land by some of our elders.

“When the men of Zone 13 Police came to arrest those who do not want our land to be sold since we had shared it among the various families and they could not find Mmesoma’s husband, they arrested his pregnant wife.

“For eight days she was in detention and it was during this period that she had a miscarriage and lost her three months pregnancy. The police had to let her go when she was almost dying in detention.

“The situation in our kindred now is that those who want to sell our land by force have been harassing us with police from Abuja, such that all the men in the village no longer sleep in their houses for fear of arrest.

“We have no other land, which was why a decision was taken to share the large expanse with the various families, which has been done. It is, therefore, surprising that my uncle, who was chairman of the kindred, insisted on selling the land when we and our children have no other land to lay hands on.”

Wanted King of Ewu, Clement Ikolo, who turned himself in has been handed over to the military by the police.

The development has been confirmed by the Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe.

King Ikolo who was one of the eight persons declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in connection with the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama community, turned himself in to the Delta State Police Command on Thursday.

The monarch was said to have arrived at the state police command headquarters at exactly 6:41 pm, to report himself to Police Commissioner, Olufemi Abaniwonda.

Before he turned himself in to the police, the monarch spoke to journalists, insisting on his innocence.

Earlier on Thursday, the Defence Headquarters declared eight persons, including Ikolo, wanted over their alleged roles in the recent killing of 17 military personnel on a peace-keeping mission to Delta State.

Those declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo (Aka Amagben), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki; a traditional ruler, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukeywe; Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi.

Amidst the economic hardship, a consultant neuropsychiatrist, Maymunah Kadiri, has underscored the need for Nigerians to prioritise the habit of mental health assessment at least twice a year to ensure their mental well-being.

Ms Kadiri, the medical director of Pinnacle Medical Services in Lagos, made the assertion in an interview on Thursday.

She decried the poor attitude of the public toward their mental health, noting that the majority of Nigerians perceived mental health evaluation as only meant for mentally challenged persons.

The neuropsychiatrist said Nigerians, irrespective of their status, background, tribe, and religion, were expected to access such services at least twice a year.

Ms Kadiri said, “Every human, irrespective of class, faces one societal ill or the other, stress and other current economic challenges that can affect the way they reason or interact.

“Such challenges are predisposing factors to depression and anxiety and can lead to suicide if not properly checked. People should consider going for mental health evaluations regularly, just like they do for physical checkups.”

The neuropsychiatrist added, “For a start, individuals can aim for at least twice a year, but in cases where one is experiencing significant stress, life changes, or symptoms of mental health issues, it is important to seek evaluation sooner.

“Additionally, if there is already a history of mental health concerns or a family history of mental illness, more frequent evaluations would be beneficial.”

The neuropsychiatrist emphasised the need for individuals to be mindful of their mental health, listen to their bodies and minds, and seek help whenever they feel overwhelmed or notice changes in their mental well-being.

Ms Kadiri, who explained that our mental health could be affected by happenings around us, urged Nigerians to prioritise the habit of mental health assessment as much as their physical health, as our mental health goes a long way in determining how we handle daily life events.

According to her, just as we regularly undergo physical examinations to monitor our blood pressure, blood sugar, and other physical health metrics, we should also be attentive to our mental health.

The police have summoned Bukky Shonibare, the chairman of FIJ’s Board of Trustees, to Abuja to answer questions about cybercrime.

The invitation, sent by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCC), was dated Thursday March 21 but was only emailed to her on Saturday March 23.

Shonibare will honour the invitation on the police’s predetermined date: Tuesday March 26, 2024.

“This Center [sic] is investigating a case in which the need to obtain some clarifications from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism and Social Justice has become imperative,” read the letter.

“In furtherance of the Police Investigation [sic] and in observance of the principle of fair hearing, you are invited to interview the Director of the Center [sic] through the undersigned.”

SP Ann Elunor from the NPF-NCC subsequently contacted Shonibare via WhatsApp to follow up on the letter.

Shonibare is to report at NPF-NCC’s office at Plot 625 Mission Road, Diplomatic Drive, Abuja.

UNDERCOVER AS A SMUGGLER

Although the NPF-NCC did not expressly say it, FIJ believes the invitation is in relation to its five-week-long investigative focus on smuggling and the Nigeria Customs Service.

On Tuesday, February 20, FIJ released the trailer of the investigation — ‘Undercover as a Smuggler’ — by ‘Fisayo Soyombo, its founder and editor-in-chief, and followed it up with a multimedia story on Wednesday February 21 and a 16-minute documentary on Thursday February 22.

Among many other things, FIJ’s story had unveiled how smuggling is aided by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) bosses who take bribes from smugglers and then betray patrol teams by updating smugglers on their colleagues’ itinerary.

It also spotlighted the criminal business history of the southwest’s biggest smuggler Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun — whose allies in power include Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, the current Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and President Bola Tinubu — in the cross-border movement of goods and arms and ammunition.

FIGHTBACK FROM IBD DENDE

The revelations prompted Ibrahim Dende, better known as ‘IBD Dende’, to deny involvement in smuggling.

In a rebuttal that was first circulated by some obscure online platforms before subsequently gaining ground in traditional newspapers such as Daily Trust, ThisDay, Vanguard, Blueprint and New Telegraph, IBD Dende petitioned the IGP, saying FIJ’s investigation amounted to “character assassination with calculated view to achieve damaging effects against IBD Dende and his businesses within and outside Nigeria”.

IBD Dende’s publicist Simon Fakeye also circulated a piece titled ‘Fisayo Soyombo: When a reporter becomes assassin’, writing: “Fisayo Soyombo in his so-called investigative report [sic] defamed Chief Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun known as IBD when he said, “IBD International Hotels, Ilaro, well-known by all and sundry to have been built with proceeds of smuggling” (par 10). But in all of his 4,519 worded two reports, Soyombo would not give at least one evidence to establish his defamation that his target was a smuggler who deals in rice and guns, what a character assassination!”

Similarly, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi JP, FCIMN, the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom, who described himself as “a First Class Monarch in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State”, wrote an open letter “to debunk the information which one Investigative Journalist called Fisayo Soyombo has put in the public domain and was also discussed recently on Arise Television Nigeria”.

FIJ’S RESPONSE? MORE EVIDENCE

In response, FIJ published an exclusive detailing how motorcycles used by bandits and insurgents to inflict terror on innocent civilians, as well as hard drugs, including tramadol, are among the goods being smuggled into northern Nigeria by the NCS, the agency that should be checking the crime.

FIJ subsequently obtained videos of Dende threatening a Customs official who intercepted his vehicles containing smuggled rice.

In the first of the videos, a frantic and irate Dende could be heard repeatedly telling the Customs officer, whom he simply identified as Rotimi: “May it never be well with you.”

Dende could also be heard bragging, “I have called Ejigbunu”, and ordering the receiver at the other end of the phone: “Call Wale, call Wale.”

FIJ confirmed that the said ‘Wale’ is Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and current Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC). Meanwhile, ‘Ejigbunu’ is Hussein Ejigbunu, Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit Zone A.

As could be seen and heard in the second video, one of Dende’s grouses was that Customs officers were also smuggling rice while his own consignment was intercepted.

“I saw your boss’s trailer — four trailers that loaded rice — in Seme,” he can be heard saying. “What did you do about it? I will not accept it! I have told Ejigbunu I will not agree!”

Terrorists on Sunday night kidnapped 87 people after launching a fresh attack on the Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday in Kaduna.

Harisu said the terrorists also broke into some shops and stole food items and other valuables.

He said they invaded the village around 10 pm.

The attack came barely two days after 15 women and a man were abducted in the Dogon-Noma community of the same local government.

Kajuru and Chikun LGs had in the past two weeks become the hotbed of kidnapping, causing tension in the state.

Harisu explained that no contact has been established yet with the 87 locals abducted on Sunday night.

“As of the time I visited the community this morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers.

“The villagers are traumatic with the sad development. The government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists,” he said.

PUNCH Online reports that the terrorists had in two weeks kidnapped over 172 villagers.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls or a text message sent to him by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.

There is no doubt that the hike in food prices since the beginning of 2024 has taken another dimension, with goods generating different price tags daily.

This is a result of soaring inflation, which has eaten deep into the purchasing power of many Nigerians, taking away staple foods from the table of many and increasing the poverty level in the country.

Speaking with Vanguard, market leaders from Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Ogun states decried the consistent surge in the prices of foodstuffs, which has exacerbated hunger among the citizens.

It’s been hard for traders —Ado-Ekiti market leaders

The leader of the market women association, Oja-Oba in Ado-Ekiti, Medinah Ibrahim, noted that the past few weeks in 2024 have been hard for traders compared to 2023.

Ibrahim warned that if the excruciatingly painful economic hardship continues unabated, more people will be pushed below the poverty line before the end of the year.

She said almost all products and foodstuffs in the market have increased in price by more than 30%.
She said: “Look at that plastic Bournvita, last year it was around N5,000 but has now surged to N7,800.

“Yes, we sell them but we can’t afford to eat them as usual else, we will be stranded and we will have nothing to fall back on.

“A packet of spaghetti was N7,000 but has skyrocketed to almost N13,000.

“Things are terrible, we are losing customers, we are hungry. Increase in food prices has made life almost unbearable for all, even we as traders.”

By Dayo Johnson, Rotimi Ojomoyela & Shina Abubakar

There is no doubt that the hike in food prices since the beginning of 2024 has taken another dimension, with goods generating different price tags daily.

This is a result of soaring inflation, which has eaten deep into the purchasing power of many Nigerians, taking away staple foods from the table of many and increasing the poverty level in the country.

Speaking with Vanguard, market leaders from Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Ogun states decried the consistent surge in the prices of foodstuffs, which has exacerbated hunger among the citizens.

It’s been hard for traders —Ado-Ekiti market leaders

The leader of the market women association, Oja-Oba in Ado-Ekiti, Medinah Ibrahim, noted that the past few weeks in 2024 have been hard for traders compared to 2023.

Ibrahim warned that if the excruciatingly painful economic hardship continues unabated, more people will be pushed below the poverty line before the end of the year.

She said almost all products and foodstuffs in the market have increased in price by more than 30%.
She said: “Look at that plastic Bournvita, last year it was around N5,000 but has now surged to N7,800.

“Yes, we sell them but we can’t afford to eat them as usual else, we will be stranded and we will have nothing to fall back on.

“A packet of spaghetti was N7,000 but has skyrocketed to almost N13,000.

“Things are terrible, we are losing customers, we are hungry. Increase in food prices has made life almost unbearable for all, even we as traders.”

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Aside from the issue of poverty, food inflation and other cost of living, the market leader decried that sending her children to school in the country has also become a difficult task.

On her part, the Iyalaje of Provision Goods traders, Mopelola Olaoluwa, expressed her displeasure over the difficulties faced in sustaining customers as a result of the hike in food prices.

She asserted that prices of goods were still manageable in late 2023, but suddenly skyrocketed which has further led to depreciation in customer patronage.

Olaoluwa expressed her frustration that business is not only slow but also very difficult to break even due to the economic situation in the country.

She said: “If you buy an item of N1,000 today, it will be N1,200 tomorrow. If you are buying one carton today, tomorrow is half for the same price because everything is going higher every day.
“I agree there is no money in the town, if there’s money, it wouldn’t be like this. Let me tell you that Kings’ oil, formerly N17,000 per carton, now goes for N23,500, some are selling at N25,000. Chicken flavour Maggi was N20,000 last week, but rose to N25,000 this week.”

Also, Monisola Salawu, who is the Vice-President of the Raw Goods Traders, registered her frustration.

She said: “It wasn’t this bad before. A bag of rice was around N65,000 but last week, it increased to more than N80,000.

“Look at a bag of beans, I bought it for N88,000 last week but when I got to the market lately, it has skyrocketed to more than N100,000.

“Things in the market are now costly; we are losing customers because negotiations from them are not favourable to us.”

She also stated that the hardship has become unbearable, as families cannot pay house rent anymore. Prices of other staple foods are also unaffordable such that in most cases, the masses end up eating only once a day.

“The government should help us, we are hungry and everybody must eat. How do we eat when things are expensive and people don’t have money to buy them? This hunger is too much, it’s suffocating us the traders too.”

Nigeria’s situation is terrible, unprecedented —Erelu Iyaloja of Akureland

Expressing her frustration over the soaring prices of foodstuffs, the Erelu Iyaloja General of Akureland, Mrs Adefunmilayo Adekanye, described the development as unprecedented.

Adekanye said: “The development in Nigeria is terrible and unprecedented. The country is not smiling at all. Prices of food items have gone off the roof. Things are getting out of hand. It’s now tough to survive in Nigeria. There’s no amount of money you hold in your hands now that can purchase half of your needs. Prices are just jumping up daily.

“It’s absurd that what you bought today, you can’t meet it at that same price the next day. Where are we heading to in Nigeria?

“The soaring prices of food items in the market should be addressed quickly before something untoward happens.

“Things are hard for everybody. Our President should act fast and do the needful to bring succour to the suffering Nigerians. The soaring prices of food items are killing.”

Our members running out of business —Sasa pepper market leader

Similarly, pepper and tomato sellers in Osun State are worried that their members are at risk of running out of business if the situation continues.

Leader of the pepper and tomato sellers in the market, Popoola Gomna, said the rate at which cost is rising is unprecedented saying some major dealers cannot afford to bring goods anymore due to shocking price changes.

Gomna said: “We cannot imagine that a basket of tomato lands in Osun at N28,000 for major dealers, while a sack of pepper lands at the market for N80,000, what then do you expect of retailers?

“All of these are the result of insecurity in the northern part of the country, demand has outweighed supply because farmers cannot access their farms as a result of various security issues.”

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has been accused of exhibiting nepotism and ethnic bias in appointments and postings.

Sources told SaharaReporters that there is discontent in some quarters in the Nigeria Police Force amid accusations that its chief – a Yoruba man and southwesterner – has been biased towards Yoruba in appointments and posting of officers.

The police chief was accused of appointing only Yoruba officers as operational commanders like state commissioners and deputy commissioners of police in charge of operations and having his tribespeople in key positions like Force Secretary, PSO to the IGP, Director of Education, Director of Insurance, Director of Peacekeeping, amongst others.



According to sources, the IGP’s alleged nepotism and ethnic bias in the posting and appointment of officers from his ethnic region has created discontent within the force, especially within the officers' cadre.



The sources said officers from the South-East and South-South regions are mostly affected by the alleged lopsided postings.

The IGP has also been accused of ignoring advice from the former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, and carrying himself as “President’s boy.”

One of the sources said, “The poor state of insecurity in the country is a result of diverse situations in the country. One of them is the growing discontentment in the Nigeria Police Force, especially within the officers’ cadre.



“This is due to the high level of nepotism and ethnic bias being exhibited by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in the area of posting operational commanders such as state commissioners and deputy commissioners in charge of operations.



“Take for instance, states termed as grade on states in the NPF are all headed and manned by his Yoruba brothers.

“These states are Lagos State where the Commissioner and the DCP Operations are Yoruba; Ogun State where the Commissioner and the DCP Operations are Yoruba; Rivers State where the Commissioner and the DCP Operations are Yoruba; Delta State where the Commissioner and the DCP Operations are Yoruba; Akwa Ibom State where the Commissioner is Yoruba; Edo State where the Commissioner and the DCP Operations are both Yoruba; Oyo State where the Commissioner and the DCP Operations are Yoruba; Anambra State where the Commissioner is Yoruba; Ondo State where the Commissioner of Police is Yoruba and Ekiti State where the Commissioner of Police and the DC Operations are Yoruba.”

According to sources, the lopsided appointment of commissioners is in addition to key positions in the Force Headquarters also occupied by Yoruba people.





“Such positions are Force Secretary; PSO to IGP; Director of Education; Director of Insurance; Director of Peacekeeping; Force PRO and a myriad of other supposed ‘lucrative’ positions in the NPF.

“The worst hit in all these are officers from the South-East and South-South of the country who had suffered from bad postings during the tenures of IGPs Ibrahim Idris, Mohammed Adamu and Usman Alkali Baba, who felt that they had a stake in the new scheme of things when IGP Egbetokun took over the realm of leadership in the NPF,” one of the sources said.



“They felt that since Egbetokun was a Southerner, he would protect their interests and carry them along. But IGP Egbetokun has since cleared their doubts by showing them that the cookie pie which he prepares is only for his Yoruba brothers.



“IGP Kayode Egbetokun has also failed to abide by or listen to any advice from Solomon Arase, the former IGP and Chairman of the Police Service Commission.



“He has no regard for the Chairman and has turned him into a lame duck in the scheme of things as he portrays himself as the President's boy who cannot be told what to do.



“The discontentment among the officers is growing fast and deep. It needs Mr. President to step in and caution IGP Kayode Egbetokun before the discontentment boils over and reaches its peak.



“It is said that a stitch in time saves nine.”



When contacted for reaction, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did not answer calls nor reply to a message sent to him.

From a National Security perspective, what would have happened to Nigeria yesterday and today if we did not have Glo to rely on? MTN, Airtel and 9Mobile went off the air. They were down. And the reason they were down is because their infrastructure is not tailor-made for Nigeria. That is why the sabotage, allegedly by the Houthi rebels, affected them.

But why did it not affect Glo? Because their commitment level to Nigeria is not as strong as Glo's.

Globacom was the first African telecom company to build an intercontinental submarine cable, the Glo 1 cable, which ran from Bude, a seaside rural town in north Cornwall, England and traversed seventeen countries, including Ghana, before terminating in Nigeria.

By going from Europe to the West Coast of Africa, it avoids the more turbulent but cheaper to maintain MENA region (Middle-East and North Africa).

Contrast that with MTN. They did not build from scratch. They came into Nigeria by scavenging on another telco. Their purpose is to suck Nigeria dry and repatriate money made in Nigeria to South Africa. Is Airtel any better? Yesterday answered that question.

Let me ask Nigerians a question: With all the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, how much has MTN spent to educate our Black South African brothers to be more tolerant to their fellow brother Black Africans, which they derogatorily call 'makwerekwere'? Nothing. Did they provide a plane when Nigerians were running away from xenophobia in South Africa? No. I helped arranged free airlifts for those willing to return home. Let MTN tell us what they did.

So, let this Red Sea Cable sabotage open the eyes of our National Security architecture. If all we had to rely on were MTN, Airtel and 9Mobile, Nigeria would have been toast. And imagine that we were fighting a real war. Can we rely on undersea cables that could be turned off from South Africa and India? What happened in Niger after their quarrel with France? France turned off their satellite communications.

This has been the rationale behind my #GrowNairaBuyNaija campaign. We saw how DSTV had a 'blackout' when Nwabali saved goals for Nigeria against South Africa. Nigerians must control Nigeria's cable and satellite infrastructure, or we are not really an independent country.

Reno Omokri
 
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.

How it started and how it ended.

“See you in court,” did not show up in court!

The consumer price index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services, rose to 31.7 percent in February 2024 — up from 29.9 percent in the previous month.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this in its CPI report for January, released on Friday.

According to the bureau, food inflation also surged to 37.92 percent in the month under review.

The bureau said the January 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of “1.80% points when compared to the January 2023 headline inflation rate.”