On Monday, I got a call from the Lagos State Police Command inviting me to appear before them.
Yesterday, I reported at the office to make statement in respect of some allegations and answer questions.
Today, I also walked into the office and was subsequently charged to court. Fortunately, the matter was struck out by the court with conditions that I go for counseling, use my platform to speak against domestic violence and stay off Twitter for a month.
In compliance, I want to appeal to married people to seek peaceful means of seeking marital disputes. Patience will always solve issues no matter how long it takes.
Also in compliance, I will be logging off Twitter for one month. I will also appreciate if nobody sends me anything from Twitter on other platforms of reaching me. I do not want to see or hear anything from Twitter. Please do not send to me.
Special thanks to the Lagos State Police Command for speedy attention to the matter. Special thanks to the firm of Wahab Shittu SAN, my legal representatives in court and my friend Adam Muhammad for further legal support.
In my 17 years of active participation on social media, I have always used the platforms as a force for good, devoting a generous amount of my Internet time to advising and supporting the ambitions of younger ones, especially on education and career matters, evident in the general feedback about how my free education and career tips have changed the lives of people for life.
I try to exude positivity and preach the message of hope. Confident that an isolated case of marital challenge will not bring down such brand. This use of social media to mass-mentor and share life-transforming information to younger folks will not stop when I return.
I never supported Buhari. When people like Jarus were promoting him on Nairaland, I was telling them, * guys, he participated in 1966 anti-Igbo coup. * guys, he is a former dictator who hates the press. * guys, the dude is a complete economic illiterate.
After Jarus blocked me and I blocked him back (which SHOCKED him because he is a bully) I forgot about his existence completely. Only to learn that he is still going about trying to discredit me. If you meet him, ask him what EXACTLY I did when he decided to block me. DETAILS.
He would do things like unfairly blaming me for the decision to "leave Nairaland" & start his own blog. Feature me on his blog and pick my most embarrasing pictures from Facebook without asking. Everytime he "praised" me he would always introduce a little dig at my character.
He posted our personal conversations constantly to embarrass me without asking for permission, while pretending to be a friend. I finally got tired of his behaviour and called him out. He responded by insulting me & trying to use his followers to drag me.
When some of his followers started taking my side, scolding him for posting personal conversations publicly, for insulting me & repeatedly escalating the conflict between us, he blocked me. Whenever I reported him to friends, they would say, "that guy is NOT your friend". Period.
PART 2: Seun Osewa blacklisted Jarus's blog, "JarusHub," on Nairaland after the fallout. That was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Jarus decided to deactivate his account and quit Nairaland for good.
Who’s still very familiar with Nairaland to tell me how to deactivate my account?
I want to rest my account after 15+ years of use.
I blocked Seun here after our “frenemous” relationship of over 14 years broke down irrevocably and he responded by going to NL to damage all links or posts that have JarusHub on NL.
Clearly a fair game.
Let me kuku rest my personal account, Jarus too.
I remain grateful to Seun and NL for giving me platform in my early years on active online participation, which I consistently acknowledge and even listed as one of the 40 forces that shaped me in my book, A Mat of Roses.
But it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Many people also patronised NL because of Jarus and the content we created remain evergreen as people still benefit from them years after we left.
If onirese stops designing calabashes, the calabashes he has beautified will remain evergreen.
PART 1: Jarus resigned as a Nairaland moderator after Igbo Nairalanders accused him of nepotism. Jarus alleged that Seun believed the accusations, which eventually led to a serious free-for-all on Nairaland for about a week until he decided to resign on January 1, 2013.
1/
Leadership & Democracy: Reflections on my Nairaland Leadership Years
I was just having a random thought on circumstances that made me resign as the moderator of NL Politics section (NPS) almost 9 years ago and for the first time, I sat back and realized there was a lesson
2/
Background
NL was my online playground from my service year in 2007 until recently.
I was the moderator of NPS from Aug 2010 to Jan 2013 and, alongside my co-moderators, we ran the section like it was full time job. NL Politics section (NPS) was very hot then with a lot of brilliant folks and all shades of debates, and of course not immune from the tribal sentiments then(though not as prevalent as now). To make it even more lively, I introduced several initiatives like monthly debate (among members), yearly hall of fame(for public personality that was considered most outstanding in the year) and, later, hall of shame (for the most disappointing public personality in the year). The selection of inductees into the two halls was through public voting by Nairaland members.
The Controversial Hall of Shame
The 2012 edition of Hall of Shame generated serious controversy that made me resign later. As was usual, we asked members for nomination in December 2012 and that was the year the late Prof Chinua Achebe published his controversial book, There was a country. Remember that book was not well received by many non-Igbos. Many people (presumably Yoruba) nominated Chinua Achebe for the HoS category.
From nomination to voting stage, we stuck to our processes which we had used for previous years - it's to be determined simply by public nominations and votes. No interference by us moderators.
The Issue
Sticking just to popular nominations, Achebe's name appeared in top 3 for this "awar. Then we put it to votes.
This generated a serious backlash for me from Igbo Nairalanders who believed I had been influenced by Yoruba members of the forum. I was called all names, including bigots.
Then the forum owner, Seun, went to issue a disclaimer to say the hall of shame award had been cancelled. I felt unhappy he went public to without informing me as the 9/ mod of that section. We had serious squabble. He had always suspected me to be partial in running that forum but I didn't care because I felt my conscious was clear.
Anyway, the matter led to serious free-for-all on NL for like a week until I decided to resign on 1 Jan 2013
In Jarus case, as far as I know, he was a man that was abused and defended himself.
I can’t remember where the guy said his sister was sitting on her husband’s neck, hitting him and asking to be beaten.
If you don’t see a clear case of a man being violated and abused in Jarus’s case, I have nothing to say to you.
So if you want to rant on my post, you can as well cry from now till tomorrow.
I’ll always speak up on DV as I’ve done for years, more than many of you lots crying in my mentions and quotes.
As you fight for the women, I hope you can open your eyes and fight for men, too. All the men being violated and abused every day around you clowns but you let it happen to them because they are men and they can handle it.
You allow men to be harassed every other day because they can be the bigger person.
The world isn’t meant to protect women alone, the men deserves been heard and treated equally as you fight for the rights of women.
Sir Jarus was never arrested contrary to the report by these media outlets. We understand that this case has received public attention but please the best you can do is not to mislead the public.
We will address the public, only when/if necessary. But please do not report lies.
To those who are disappointed because they think I am a bad friend to him because I keep speaking against polygamy, here's my thinking on the matter:
Let's say he and I were BEST friends. I would have visited his home and met his wife and kids.
When I learned that he disciplined his wife because she wouldn't accept a 2nd wife, I would have been very angry with him. I would have asked him to apologize to his wife and cancel the 2nd wife project. He would have told me to go and BLEEP myself and that would have been the end of our friendship.
I would have gone on Twitter to rant about polygamy and the other issue just as I'm doing now. But without mentioning his name or wishing him harm in any way just as I am doing now.
I always rant about polygamy whenever the issue is brought up on my timeline because I hate the idea of coercing women to accept new wives & turning your home into a war zone to the detriment of the children & yourselves.
But I don't have any ill-wishes or beef towards him. None whatsoever. If he contacts me, I will be as cordial and helpful as I have ever been towards anyone.
I don't even know anything about his situation because after we reconciled, I followed him but he did not follow me back, so I unfollowed him and now that he has protected his tweets I don't have any access to them.
But still, no beef. He remains one of my BUSINESS role models.
Jarus made the claim after Seun Osewa criticized him for "disciplining" his wife. Mr. Osewa used the euphemism "discipline" to chastise his best friend and real estate developer for beating his wife.
He does. And I knew. Why I called him “frenemy” here two years ago.
He is not fine with someone that “rose” through his platform possibly later outrising him in profile (despite the amount of open credit and support one still continues to give his platform).
It was personal. Waiting for an opportunity to pull one down 😀😀😀
Weyrey did not know that that will not work
Seun is just jealous that despite his Nairaland being my introduction to fame and social capital (which I always acknowledge and thank the platform for), I have become possibly more popular than him with thriving businesses and I am not as active on Nairaland as I used to be (which is natural, I quit FB too).
He had bottled-up hatred for me. So he was just venting. I have a lot of information about him, but there is no point discussing him. He doesn’t have the “liver” for rogbodiyan when you go all out on him. He is a coward, a cry baby.
When I called him “frenemy” here two years ago, people did not see what I saw.
Aarsteel has closed shop, down and out, Aarti Steel having been into roofing sheet market for so many years with considerable market foot prints is finally saying good bye to Nigeria. The Ota in Ogun State based Steel plant has not been operating smoothly for almost a year with intermittent production which made it impossible to meet the funding requirements for the continuation of its operations.
Speaking to the reliable sources known to the matter, he spoke about the impact of severe indebtedness due to forex exchange losses, adverse economic policies, smuggled substandard goods which depressed the local pricing mechanisms forcing the company to sell at a price lesser than the company’s cost of production. These are primarily responsible for the shut-down of the plant.
According to Mr. Lateef Bello speaking to the correspondent, there are two major steel companies from Nigeria and a couple of Indian Steel companies showing their interest to buy and move on with the operation of the plant in order to save thousands of direct and indirect jobs associated with Aarti Steel’s value chain.
The Chairman of Galvanized Iron Steel Manufacturers Association (GISMA), a sub-sector of Basic Metal, Iron & Steel and Fabricated Metals Products under MAN expressed disappointment over the proposed sale of Aarti Steel engendered by the economic woes the company has found itself.
He, however remains optimistic that Nigeria has committed indigenous companies like *KAM HOLDING*, with the right expertise, financial strength and tenacity to revamp and turn around such distressed steel plants without much fuss.
On the onset of such business collapses, MAN and NACCIMA have reiterated their stand to FG at different fora for prompt action to arrest the menace.
Addressing economic, forex, power, ease of doing business related challenges requires coordinated efforts from all government agencies at top most level.
A Federal High Court in Kano has set aside all steps taken by Kano state government to repeal the Kano Emirates Council Law.
The Kano House of Assembly had repealed the law after which Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf implemented it by dethroning Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano.
The governor also reversed the creation of four emirates, Bichi, Rano Karaye and Gaya, and sacked the Emirs appointed by his predecessor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The law was also relied upon to re-appoint the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was dethroned by Ganduje in 2020, as the 16th Emir of Kano.
But a kingmaker in the former Kano emirate, Aminu Babba Danagundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, challenged the propriety of the law and asked the court, through his counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), to declare it null and void.
In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman set aside the action of Kano government, ordering parties to maintain status quo.
Enugu residents have jettisoned their kerosene stoves, opting for charcoal stoves instead due to the high cost of kerosene, which currently sells for between N1,350 and N1,600 per litre.
A market survey on charcoal on Tuesday in Enugu showed that many people preferred using charcoal for cooking due to its affordable price.
A charcoal seller in Garki Market, Grace Umeh, said that although the price of charcoal had risen from N5,000 to N8,000 per sack, patronage had continued to soar.
Ms Umeh said the increase in patronage was due to the fact that an average family of five could use up to 20 litres of kerosene in a month for cooking.
“So, the family spends over N20,000 on kerosene in a month. On the other hand, a bag of charcoal will last for two months, no matter the pressure of use, for the same size of family,’’ she said.
Another seller at Mayor Market, Oby Okafor, said that most families were buying the commodity in large quantities due to the high cost of kerosene and other energy sources.
“We have continued to experience good and profitable business for some time now in this charcoal business,” Ms Okafor said.
Christiana Ozor, a charcoal dealer at Achara Layout, said that she now sells more than two bags a day due to increased patronage.
Some buyers said that using charcoal for cooking had saved them a lot of money.
Gilbert Nnamdi, a father of four, said his friend had introduced him to a new charcoal stove, which had helped him reduce the amount he spent on kerosene.
“With only N200 charcoal my wife can cook a pot of soup and a pot of rice for the family no matter the quantity of the food. This new charcoal stove does not take time to catch fire and does not bring out smoke while cooking with it,” he said.
Another charcoal user, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that she had been using charcoal since the increase in the price of kerosene.
“I stopped using kerosene when the price increased to N900 and because I am afraid of using cooking gas, I quickly opted for charcoal as a means of energy cooking source,” she said.
Food vendors are not left out in the rush for charcoal because they can no longer afford the prices of kerosene and cooking gas.
A restaurant owner, Ijeoma Dim, explained that the soaring price of kerosene and cooking gas had suddenly made charcoal popular.
Ofor Anyawu added that charcoal sellers are now doing brisk business due to the price increase of other cooking energy sources.
Mr Anyawu called on the government to make all cooking energy sources affordable and available for the masses, especially in the face of the country’s economic challenges.
Pay-TV operator, Multichoice recorded significant growth in its betting business in Nigeria for the financial year ended March 31, 2024, as users of its betting platform, KingMakers, increased by 37%.
The company disclosed this in its financial results for the year, which was released recently.
This came amid an 18% decline in subscribers for its main business, DStv and GOtv partly due to economic hardship and three consecutive price increments implemented by the company in the last one year.
This indicates that more Nigerians are going into betting as a means of survival hoping to make more money by gambling with the little they have as inflation bites harder.
Coming as a reprieve for the company whose Pay-TV business suffered declines across its operations, Multichoice said the online gaming business also saw a 26% year-on-year revenue increase from Nigeria in constant currency.
News continues after this ad
Impact of Naira However, in reported currency, which is USD, the company noted that the $147 million revenue for the year came in 26% lower than FY23 due to the impact of the weaker naira.
“KingMakers reported strong growth in the online business in Nigeria, with monthly active users up 37% YoY and online gross gaming revenues up 26% YoY in constant currency.
“Revenue of USD147 million was affected by the weak Naira, while the business reported a positive EBITDA of USD2 million. At the end of its December year-end, the business had a retained cash balance of USD113 million to fully fund its growth initiatives,” the company stated.
In its overall financial performance for the year, Multichoice reported a loss of 4.148 billion rands ($224.87 million) in the year ended March 2024, an increase from a loss of 2.9 billion rands ($157.21 million) the year before, blaming it on foreign exchange losses in Nigeria, Kenya Zambia and Angola.
What you should know Making its entry into the booming betting business in Nigeria, MultiChoice acquired a 20% stake in Nigerian online sports betting company BetKing, now known as KingMakers, for R1.3 billion in 2020.
In 2021, the video entertainment firm increased its stake to 49% for $281.5 million, bringing the total value of its KingMakers shareholding to R5.9 billion. MultiChoice planned to leverage its extensive sports coverage to boost the betting business. According to internal data cited by KingMakers, 77% of DStv subscribers are active betters or engage in match predictions, providing an extensive customer base for a betting product. According to a report by KPMG, Africa’s gambling market was predicted to reach a value of $37 billion by 2022, with sports betting accounting for most of that growth. The majority of Africa’s Gross Gaming Revenue (GRR) is sports betting, which is expected to rise by 17% by 2027, with online betting revenues growing from $2.9 billion to $5.5 billion. MultiChoice had alluded to the sports betting industry’s impressive growth projections as one of the driving seasons for the acquisition.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has granted the bail application filed by a social media influencer Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, popularly known as Ijele.
SaharaReporters learned that the bail was granted in a ruling delivered by the trial judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko on Friday morning.
The court mandated Ijele to provide N50 million bail bond with two sureties, adding that one of the sureties must own a landed property in Lagos while the civil service cadre of other one must not be lower than level 14.
SaharaReporters on May 30 reported how the Nigeria Police Force filed an amended three-count criminal charge against Ijele before the court.
The three counts between the Inspector General of Police as the Complainant and Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu as Defendant borders on conspiracy, criminal defamation, cybercrime and threats to life.
In the charge numbered FHCA/3210/24, the police said the offences violate sections 24(1)(a)(b), (2)(a)(b); 27(1)(a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and sections 373 and 374 of the Criminal Code Act, Punishable under section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
Also, a magistrate court in Abuja had earlier struck out the case bordering on criminal intimidation, threat to life, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying filed against him.
The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, while ruling on the bail application filed through his lawyer, struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction.
The judge also ordered the police to arraign the blogger before a competent court of law to enable the defendant to take his plea in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJA) 2015.
Delivering his ruling on the bail application, Iyana ruled that the defendant be arraigned before the Federal High Court where the prosecution claimed to have filed charges against him.
He added that there was no charge before his court against the blogger and that his court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.
On Monday, May 30, at the last hearing, Justice Aluko criticised the Nigeria Police Force for what he described as an excessive deployment of legal resources in the cybercrime case against the social media influencer.
The judge expressed dismay at the large number of lawyers as well as junior legal practitioners watching briefs in the case.
The Nigeria Police Force is prosecuting the case on behalf of Evangelist Ebuka Obi’s Zion Prayer Ministry Movement Outreach.
At the re-arraignment of the social media influencer on May 30, the police announced about 10 lawyers appearing on the case.
Amazed at the number of lawyers in the courtroom appearing for the police on the case, Justice Aluko knocked the police for fielding a disproportionately large retinue of lawyers to prosecute the case in what could be implied as a waste of resources and non-efficient utilisation of the lawyers’ time.
Similarly, human rights advocate and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, knocked the police for fielding such a retinue of lawyers, describing it as unnecessary legal representation.
Sowore, who attended the hearing to support Ijele, expressed dissatisfaction with the police's decision to assemble many lawyers to appear in a case of human rights violation.
He noted that such deployment of lawyers in what was supposed to be a civil matter was not just a waste of resources, but a clear sign of the lengths to which the authorities would go to stifle free speech and violate human rights in the country.
The Federal Government should not be spending money on prisons and prisoners. They should be making money from prisons. Prisoners should work on farms to grow their own food and even excess produce that should be sold to the public. Let us do what China does, and instead of paying for labourers to build roads, prisoners, including big men and powerful politicians who go to prisons, should build roads and other infrastructure for free. Their payment is their food and board. How can the government be spending billions to feed and accommodate prisoners while law abiding Nigerians are looking for food and housing? That is a provocation to the average honest Nigerian to commit crimes so he can go to prison and get free meals and accommodation!
BlackRock’s iShares worth $400 million issues notice to exit Nigeria
BlackRock, one of the world’s top asset managers, announced it would liquidate its iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs) worth $400 million over unprofitable business environments in Nigeria and Kenya, particularly the challenge of currency repatriation worsened by the naira devaluation.
iShares Frontiers, which invested millions of dollars in emerging market equities in Nigeria and Kenya over the years, fixed its last trading day for March 31, 2025, when the extended liquidation is anticipated to conclude.
“The board of directors of the company approved a proposal to liquidate the fund. In light of persistent liquidity challenges in certain frontier markets, including among other things, delays or limits on repatriation of local currency, the board determined that it is in the best interest of the fund and its shareholders for the fund to liquidate,” said iShares said in a recent statement.
The company said it was opting for an “extended liquidation” given the significance of the naira conversion on the liquidation, which cannot easily be predicted.
“Currency conversions, including conversion of Nigeria’s currency, the naira, will impact the timing of the fund’s liquidation. As a result, the fund will enter into an extended liquidation period,” BlackRock’s iShares stated. “After market close no earlier than August 12, 2024, but on a date as soon as practicable, the fund will cease trading and the creation and redemption of creation units.”
Already, the company has liquidated $5.2 million of its shares in Kenyan companies like Safaricom ($2.8 million), Equity Group ($1.5 million), and KCB Group ($885,000), which are quoted on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
The planned exit of BlackRock’s iShares was another dent in Nigeria’s economic scorecard as the one-year-old President Bola Tinubu’s administration grapples with Nigeria’s dwindling economic fortunes.
Diageo, the parent company of the Guinness brand, on Tuesday announced it was selling its controlling shares to a third-party venture called Tolaram after recording an over N61 billion loss in its financial year that ended March 31.
UK pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and tech giant Microsoft have also shut down their business operations in Nigeria.
Halt exit of multinationals from Nigeria, APC chieftain begs Tinubu
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to stop the continued exit of multinationals from Nigeria.
Mr Oyintiloye, who made the appeal during an interview with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, Osun State, described the exit of the companies as worrisome and heartbreaking.
The APC chieftain appealed to the President to continue to do everything possible to improve on the economy to attract more investment into the country rather than exiting.
Mr Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that the continuous exit of multinationals from Nigeria, if not checked, could lead to reduction in foreign investment inflows.
The APC chieftain said the recent announcement by Kimberly-Clark, an American multinational and producer of baby products, Huggies, to exit the country was worrisome.
He said that GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, French pharmaceutical company, Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria Limited and Procter and Gamble, among others had stopped their operations fully or partially.
According to him, in 2023, Unilever stopped the production of its legendary OMO, Sunlight and Lux home and skin care brands to cut costs and concentrate on higher growth opportunities.
Mr Oyintiloye also said that multinational oil companies were also affected by the development.
“This includes influential oil mining multinationals such as Shell, ExxonMobil and ENI. These companies left mainly because of heightened insecurity in the Niger Delta and inability of the government to provide their counterpart funds to enable the joint venture agreements to explore and exploit new oilfields”, he said
Mr Oyintiloye, who said that the President was doing everything possible to stabilise the economy, said that there was an urgent need for government to address the challenging business environment cited by the companies.
He said that the inflationary pressure, lack of liquid foreign exchange, rising interest rates, electricity crisis, among others causing the exit of multinational companies must be quickly addressed.
Mr Oyintiloye, who is also a former member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, added that the exit of the companies would not only result in job losses but also affects the country’s Gross Domestic Products.
He urged the President to put in place measures that would ensure availability of foreign exchange for companies.
Mr Oyintiloye also appealed to the President to restore Nigeria as a haven for multinationals and also empower the indigenous manufacturing industries
“There is no doubt that the President has been putting measures in place to revamp the economy, increasing foreign direct investment and also making local industries vibrant and competitive. But there is an urgent need to address challenges causing the exit of these multinationals. Government should create a more flexible, transparent foreign exchange policy to address scarcity issues, reduce inflationary trend which has reduced consumers’ demand and purchasing power, create tax breaks, review economic and fiscal policy. The government should also look at how to give incentives to some of the multinationals that are still operating in the country,” he said.
Mr Oyintiloye, however, expressed optimism that with the various policies put in place by the President to revamp the economy, Nigerians would soon “begin to smile.”
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday stumbled and fell as he climbed into the back of a parade vehicle at Eagles Square on Wednesday.
Mr Tinubu fell face down during the commemoration of the June 12 Democracy Day.
See who dey lead a whole nation 😭pic.twitter.com/LIBkWjWilC https:///eCDZKywFGZ
— Giwa⚕️22 (@_gsishere) June 12, 2024 It was unclear from the video of his fall whether he was caught in the web of of his flowing agbada, causing a misstep or that he was battling an unsteady gait due to possible ill health.
The guards around him were unable to prevent the Nigerian president from taking a tumble and hitting the floor of the vehicle.
June 12 Protest: Stop Threatening Harmless Nigerians, Go And Face Bandits – Deji Adeyanju Warns DSS
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has slammed the Department of State Services (DSS) for threatening harmless Nigerians over the planned protest scheduled for Wednesday, June 12, over the worsening economic situation in the country.
Adeyanju described the statement issued by the DSS Director, Public Relations & Strategic Communications, Peter Afunanya as affront to the democratic values which would be resisted through every available legal means.
He stated this in a release he made available to journalists just as he called on the service to tread with caution and not to truncate the nation's democratic tenet and principles.
He noted that the service had the responsibility to maintain national security, adding that freedom of expression and assembly were fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution and must be protected.
“I am compelled to respond to the Department of State Services' (DSS) public statement on the planned protests scheduled for June 12, 2024, regarding the worsening economic conditions of the Nigerian masses.
“While the DSS has the responsibility to maintain national security, it is essential to recognize that freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental rights enshrined in our constitution. These rights are the bedrock of democracy, and any attempt to suppress them is a threat to our democratic values and will be resisted through every available legal means.
“Ironically, the present administration of President Tinubu that rode to power on the back of protests and demonstrations is now threatening the fundamental rights of citizens. It is indeed hypocritical to attempt to stifle the same rights that were exercised by those who brought them to power.
“I urge the DSS and the Federal Government to respect citizens' rights to peaceful assembly and expression. Rather than threatening protesters, they should go and face bandits, terrorists and kidnappers terrorising Nigerians unchallenged.
“In solidarity, I call on all Nigerians to exercise their rights peacefully and responsibly and urge security agencies to protect protesters and ensure their safety”
It would be recalled that the secret police had in a statement threatened Nigerians who are planning to exercise their fundamental human rights to freedom of expression as stipulated in the Section 39 and Section 40 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The statement also described them as disgruntled elements disgruntled groups who are aimed to cause a breakdown of law and order.
Local blogger Reno Omokri has intensified efforts to lift his followers out of poverty, but it's not without a cost. To benefit from his magnanimity, followers must first pay ₦4,110 monthly for a subscription. They are then given access to exclusive content behind a paywall on X, where Mr. Reno reveals which cryptocurrency coins or shares to buy or sell. Positive results are shared publicly to trigger FOMO (fear of missing out).
While this initiative is commendable, his aggressive and frequent calls for subscriptions have led many to question whether he is truly helping poor Nigerians survive Tinubu's harsh economic policies, or if he is trying to survive himself.
"Of all the issues in the world, 'subscription calls' dominate his timeline by a wide margin, surpassing even topics about Peter Obi and Obidients," said Olumide, a concerned observer. "Even if he is the Nigerian messiah destined to lift Nigerians out of poverty, nine or more subscription calls per day are excessive. It would only make sense if he is doing all this to survive."
Ayo, another observer, echoed similar sentiments: "It's hard to believe his intentions are purely altruistic when his timeline is flooded with subscription requests. Even if he genuinely wants to help, the sheer frequency of these calls makes it seem like he's more focused on his own survival."
An anonymous source added, "Even if Reno Omokri is the messiah we need, the constant barrage of subscription pleas is overwhelming. Nine or more times a day is just too much. It feels more like a survival tactic than a genuine effort to lift people out of poverty."
I like to thank immensely the young man, Lord Zeus, driven by patriotism and courage to raise alarm on the vandalization of the second Niger bridge.
The viral video of this good Nigerian copiously points out the senseless criminality and vandalism of our collective assets which is capable of causing grievious harm to members of the public if left unchecked.
He took time to expose how this critical infrastructure of the 2nd Niger Bridge is being vandalised by criminals, thereby causing harm to road users and constituting a security threat to society.
I share his concerns and that of many patriots over the constant destruction of public property, including vandalising of railway tracks, cutting up of high voltage cables, stealing of aluminum railings on bridges, and so on.
We must condemn these acts of sabotage and criminality in their totality. Now that this critical issue has, again, been exposed, I urge the government and security agencies to do a follow up by investigating deeply and bringing to book, the perpertrators of such crimes.
We must now put in place strict disciplinary measures for those who vandalise public assets. In this age of advanced electronic surveillance, the relevant authorities must now install reliable surveillance systems to monitor the security of vital public infrastructure.
I urge our traditional rulers, community leaders, market associations, and other stakeholders to mobilize a collective response. We must work together to educate and sensitize our people on the harmful effects of such criminality, which not only undermines our economic development but also puts lives at risk. In building a New Nigeria, we must dismantle every form of criminality, at every level of our national existence, and together, build a safer, more prosperous Nigeria for all. - PO
Ndi Mmadu Joro Njo!! Some People No Like Good Things In This Life.This One No Be Government Again Ooo
The Appropriate Quaters Should Please Help To See How They Can Get Hold Of The Culprits Of This Atrocities And For Those Of Us plying This Road Should Be Very Careful To Avoid Accident Or So..
I Just Want To Say A Very Big Thank To My Fans For Their Comments And Suggestions On How To Handle This Vandalization Of 2nd Niger Bridge,And Also My Profound Appreciation To @nigeriapoliceforce ,C Division Asaba For Their Quick Response On This Matter When I Went There To Report,Daluu Nu ✌🏿
Let Our Energy Be Used To Build Not Destroy For The Betterment Of Our Society.IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER ❤️🩹
The ingredients used in making these products cannot be verified, and customers are not allowed to give reviews on their experiences with any Erisco products. The company is currently bullying a customer for giving an honest review of her experience.
We perfected the bail of Chioma Okoli yesterday, and also successfully secured her release from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State where she was remanded on Tuesday after her arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
She has since reunited with her family and is recuperating and will be seeking proper medical care.
Chioma is grateful to Nigerians who have supported her materially and otherwise.
This case further demonstrates that there are people of conscience and goodwill who would not hesitate to commit their energies, resources and voices in pursuit of the course of justice and in defence of the oppressed.
Some people have helped Chioma in ways that are simply profound and humbling; we are eternally gratefully to everyone of them.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Chioma Okoli in the sum of N5 million with two sureties.
Okoli was arraigned on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 before Hon. Justice Peter Lifu but was remanded at Suleja Correctional Center.
She pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and cyberstalking levelled against her.
In his ruling on the bail application filed by her lawyer Inibehe Effiong on Friday, the judge granted her bail with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Lifu held that one of the sureties must be her spouse or blood relations and must be resident in Abuja with verified means of livelihood.
She must also deposit her passport with the court, if she has one.
The court held that the ruling was predicated on Section 365 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended on the presumption of innocence. The court held that denying her bail would be a wrong application of discretion and tantamount to pre-trial judgment and judicial rascality.
The case has been adjourned to June 13, 2024 for trial.
The CEO of Erisco Foods Limited, Eric Omeofia, alleged in 2023 that a negative product review made by Chioma Okoli adversely impacted his business after she said that the Nagiko Tomato Mix she bought had too much sugar.
Okoli was arrested by the police in September 2023 with her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, raising the alarm that the fundamental rights of his client were being breached by the police and Omeofia.
The two counts read, “That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large And Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ of on or about sometime in the month of September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourself and intentionally sent a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating people against Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family, thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 27 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.
“That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large and Don Kashking now at large ‘m’ of on or about sometime in the month of September, 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court intentionally send a message by means of computer and social media network such as Facebook, by using your Facebook handle by name Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false and with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, the management, and members of the family, and thereby committed an offense contrary and punishable under Section 24 (1) (B) Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.”
A coalition of over 300 women organisations under the aegis of Womanifesto has called on all Nigerian women to boycott all products of Erisco Foods Limited with immediate effect.
The demand is sequel to the continuous incarceration of Tomato Paste reviewer, Chioma Okoli following a complaint by the CEO of Erisco Foods, Eric Omeofia, in 2023.
He had alleged that a negative product review by a customer, Chioma Okoli, negatively impacted his business when she claimed that the Nagiko Tomota Mix she bought had too much sugar.
Okoli was eventually arrested by the police in September 2023 with her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, raising alarm that the fundamental rights of his client was being breached by the police and Omeofia.
Okoli is standing bordering on conspiracy and cyberstalking leveled against her.
Upon her arraignment before Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court in Abuja, Okoli pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre till today, Friday May 31 2024 for ruling on her bail application.
While human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, along with S. M. Oyeghe appeared for her, Abdulrashid Isyaku-Sidi appeared for the Inspector-General of Police.
Effiong told the court that his client suffered miscarriage in the course of the case and eventually lost her baby.
Womanifesto in a statement by the Executive Director of Women Advocates and Research Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi and other signatories on behalf of the over 300 women organizations also called on the government to come to the aid of Chioma as its silence is deafening and “loudly telling us that we the consumers cannot voice our opinions about goods we purchase with our hard earned money.’
Other signatories included Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Women Aid Collective (WACOL), ActionAid Nigeria, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, Christian Women in Nigerian Politics, Christian Association of Nigeria, Women’s Wing (WOWICAN), 100 Women Lobby Group (100WLG), Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Women In Politics Forum (WiPF), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF) and Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT).
The statement titled, “Womanifesto Demands Release of Chioma Okoli”, reads: “We call on all Nigerian women to join us to #BoycottErisco products with immediate effect, for the following reasons:
“The continued harassment & detention of Chioma Okoli. The insufferable stress and trauma that has been inflicted on Chioma Okoli since September 2023 to date, which has also led to the loss of her pregnancy.
“Loss of earnings and livelihood due to her inability to work and provide for her family as a direct consequence of the ongoing persecution and psychological molestation.
“The apparent risk and threat to her life and flagrant abuse of her human rights.
“For being subjected to constant litigation for exercising her freedom of speech and expression, including freedom to hold opinions, and to receive and impart information without interference as granted to her under section 39 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution.
“We are concerned about her ability to get justice in a country with a reputation for compromised justice.
“We salute Chioma’s continued courage, bravery and tenacity in the face of intimidation and threats. We will continue to support her quest for justice.
“It is worthy to note that in other countries where the health and nutritional well-being of the citizens are paramount, relevant government agencies would be at the forefront of the investigations into all Erisco products and the corresponding labels, instead of leaving this landmark issue in the hands of those who prioritise profit to the lives and general well-being of 200 million Nigerians.
“We call on the government to come to the aid of Chioma as your silence is deafening; loudly telling us that we the consumers cannot voice our opinions about goods we purchase with our hard earned money. Is it silence or suffer? Like it or be locked up? Purchase tomato paste, next stop prison. #ReleaseChiomanow!”
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