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Police arrest 30,313, recover 1,984 firearms, 23,250 ammuntion

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago03 mins

The Inspector-General of Nigerian Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has revealed the arrests of 30,313 suspected criminals in the out-going year. Egbetokun made this revelation on Tuesday during a strategic meeting held on Tuesday, with senior police officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The meeting, which took place at the Goodluck Ebele Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters Abuja, served as a platform for reviewing the achievements of the Force in the year 2024 while outlining strategic plans for innovation and adaptability as the Force prepares for the challenges of the coming year. In his remarks, the IGP acknowledged the hard work and dedication displayed by police officers throughout the year, particularly the significant accomplishments in crime reduction and community engagement, noting the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering trust between the police and the public. In the year under review, the Nigeria Police Force recorded major successes in tackling crime, leading to the arrest of 30,313 suspects for various heinous offences, the recovery of 1,984 assorted firearms, 23,250 rounds of ammunition of varying calibres, and the rescue of 1,581 kidnapped victims. The IGP emphasized that the Force will prioritize innovation in technology and operational strategies in 2025, learning from experiences and adapting as we move on. The IGP also encouraged senior officers to embrace modern tools and progressive practices that enhance the Force’s effectiveness in crime prevention and investigation. As the nation approaches the festive season, the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of IGP Egbetokun, is poised to implement the necessary measures to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for all citizens. The IGP reiterates the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the public, ensuring safety, and fostering a culture of accountability.

8th CHAN: Rabiu Ali, Alimi, 16 others to tackle Ghana

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago05 mins

Stand-in Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede has picked ageless warhorse Rabiu Ali, wing-back Sadiq Ishmael, centre-back Stephen Manyo, midfielders Musa Zayyad and Jide Fatokun, and forwards Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi in an 18-man roster for Sunday’s 8th African Nations Championship qualifying match against Ghana’s Black Galaxies in Accra. The gaffer also picked goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena, defender Victor Collins and forward Abubakar Adamu for the must-win two-leg fixture, with the Galaxies being the reason why Nigeria failed to qualify for the championship on two different occasions in the past, namely 2009 and 2023. The Super Eagles B, with Ogunmodede and Coaches Fidelis Ilechukwu and Olatunji Baruwa in charge, had staggered training sessions over three weeks from the month of October, before a final training camp commenced at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo three weeks ago. Sunday’s first leg fixture is scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off set for 4pm Ghana time (5pm in Nigeria), and some kilometres away, both countries’ U17 girls will be battling for the inaugural WAFU B U17 Cup at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram. Over the past 10 months, Nigeria have dominated Ghana at international level, starting with the Super Eagles’ 2-1 defeat of the Black Stars in a friendly match in Marrakech, Morocco – a first win at senior level for Nigeria against the West African rivals in 18 years. In the summer, Nigeria’s U17 boys edged the Black Satellites 3-2 in the third-place match of the WAFU B U17 Championship staged by Ghana, and in October, the Flying Eagles defeated the Black Satellites 3-1 to successfully retain their WAFU B U20 Championship title in Lome, Togo. Togolese referee Aklesso Gnama will be in charge of Sunday’s encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium, with compatriots Jonathan Ahonto Koffi, Wassiou Tchamolla Ourotou and Kossi Fabrice Senyo in the roles of assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively. Liberian Ivan Gartor Brown will serve as commissioner while Hugues Alain Adjovi from Benin Republic will be the referee assessor. The second leg will hold at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 28th December, with the winner on aggregate to pick a ticket to the 8th African Nations Championship taking place in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, 1st – 28th February, 2025. 18 SUPER EAGLES B FOR WAR AGAINST GHANA’S BLACK GALAXIES Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena (Enyimba FC); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars) Defenders: Ismail Sadiq (Remo Stars); Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City); Imo Obot (Enyimba FC); Junior Nduka (Remo Stars); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International); Steven Manyo (Rivers United) Midfielders: Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Saviour Isaac (Rangers International); Musa Zayyad (El-Kanemi Warriors) Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United) Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Emmanuel Ogbole (Kwara United); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Super Eagles retain spot on FIFA ranking

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago01 mins

Former African champions Super Eagles retained her spot in the latest World football governing body (FIFA) monthly ranking. The Nigerian side ended the year in 44th position spot as released by FIFA on Thursday. Nigeria’s global football standing. Eagles however remain fifth in Africa. On the global stage, World Champions, Argentina, signed off for the year in top spot, with France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) joining them on the podium. As for those in the chasing pack, England (4th), Brazil (5th), Portugal (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Belgium (8th), Italy (9th) and Germany (10th) all retain their places in the upper echelons of the ranking. Indeed, that lack of movement is mirrored throughout the top 100, where there is not even the slightest bit of jostling for position. The next edition of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking will be published on 3 April 2025. Africa’s Top 10MoroccoSenegalEgyptAlgeriaNigeriaCote d’ IvoireCameroonMaliTunisiaSouth Africa

Holiday Bonanza: Dangote Reduces PMS Price to N899.50k

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago03 mins

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) product to below N900 per litre, to provide much-needed relief for Nigerians ahead of the holiday season. Africa’s first privately-owned oil refinery, which previously lowered the price to N970 per litre on November 24, has now announced a new price of N899.50 per litre. This reduction is designed to ease transport costs during the festive period. In a statement issued by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, the company also introduced a special offer to further benefit consumers. In addition to the holiday discount, Dangote Petroleum Refinery is allowing consumers to purchase an additional litre of fuel on credit for every litre bought on a cash basis. “To alleviate transport costs during this holiday season, Dangote Refinery is offering a holiday discount on PMS. From today, our petrol will be available at N899.50 per litre at our truck loading gantry or SPM. Furthermore, for every litre purchased on a cash basis, consumers will have the opportunity to buy another litre on credit, backed by a bank guarantee from Access Bank, First Bank, or Zenith Bank,” said Chiejina. The refinery also expressed its gratitude to Nigerians for their continued support as the country enters the festive season. Chiejina further emphasised the refinery’s commitment to ensuring Nigerians have access to premium quality petroleum products that are competitively priced, as well as environmentally and engine friendly. He highlighted that the refinery’s operations mark the end of Nigeria being a dumping ground for substandard and ‘blended’ imported products, which have posed significant risks to human health, machinery, and the environment. The Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (BPD), is the largest single-train refinery in the world. It is fully capable of meeting 100% of Nigeria’s refined petroleum product requirements, with a surplus available for export.

Ademola Lookman crowned African King

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago03 mins

Nigerian star Ademola Lookman has been crowned as the African Player of the Year at 2024 CAF Awards held at the Palais des Congrés in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday. The Atalanta of Italy forward succeeded his Nigerian compatriot Victor Osimhen. His three goals and two assists were pivotal to Nigeria reaching their eighth Africa Cup of Nations Final in Cote d’Ivoire in February, and his hat-trick in a 3-0 win handed Italian side, Atalanta FC the UEFA Europa Cup at the expense of hitherto-rampaging German side, Bayer Leverkusen in May. This season, he has notched 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta (including a goal against record winners Real Madrid FC in the UEFA Champions League), and scored two goals as Nigeria qualified for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals, with two other goals controversially chalked off. The Winners Player of the Year (Men)Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta Player of the Year (Women)Barbara Banda (Zambia) Coach of the Year (Men)Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire) Coach of the Year (Women)Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe) Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)Ronwen Williams (S/Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Paris FC) Interclub Player of the Year (Men)Ronwen Williams (S/Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) Interclub Player of the Year (Women)Sanaa Massoudy (Morocco/ASFAR) Club of the Year (Men)Al Ahly (Egypt) Club of the Year (Women)TP Mazembe (DR Congo) National Team of the Year (Men)Cote d’Ivoire National Team of the Year (Women)Nigeria Young Player of the Year (Men)Lamine Camara (Senegal/AS Monaco) Young Player of the Year (Women)Doha El Madani Morocco/ASFAR Referee of the Year (Men)Mutaz IbrahimElivis Guy

SERAP sues Tinubu over alleged missing N57b in Humanitarian Affairs Ministry

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago04 mins

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the failure to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to work with appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that over N57 billion of public funds were missing, diverted, or stolen from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021 alone.” This was disclosed in a statement signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, on Sunday and sent to Nairametrics. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has been joined as a respondent in the suit, with the advocacy group alleging that serious concerns against the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry were documented in the 2021 audited report released last month by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation. In the suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is asking the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct Mr. Fagbemi to work with appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate allegations that over N57 billion of public funds were missing, diverted, or stolen from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.” SERAP is also asking the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct Mr. Fagbemi to work with appropriate anti-corruption agencies to prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible for the missing N57 billion, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and to recover any missing public funds.” SERAP argued that investigating the allegations, prosecuting those suspected of being responsible for the missing N57 billion, and recovering the missing funds would help end the impunity of perpetrators. “The allegations amount to stealing from the poor. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations. “Poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as in other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs),” SERAP added. Oluwadare and Ms. Oluwakemi Agunbiade further emphasized that granting their reliefs would go a long way in addressing corruption in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as the country’s budget deficit and debt problems. “According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation failed to account for over N54 billion (N54,630,000,000.00) meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021,” the suit partly reads. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

Pyrates condemn arrest, detention of Farotimi, demand immediate release

Fola Badmus10 months ago10 months ago06 mins

The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has condemned the unjust arrest and subsequent detention in prison custody of human rights activist and lawyer Mr Dele Farotimi over an alleged case of defamation against the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola. The group described the Police and Judiciary’s actions as an abuse of the rule of law, saying such a posture is an aberration and brings to the fore the dark era of the military. An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, on Wednesday remanded Farotimi in prison custody until December 10, 2024. In a statement titled, “Enough is Enough! This Harassment, Intimidation of Innocent Citizens Must Stop Now,” by the NAS Capn, Dr Joseph Oteri, the association said the invasion of his law firm and subsequent harassment of his staff is a clear abuse of their fundamental human rights as guaranteed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, the association is demanding his unconditional release. It expressed concerns that these incidents underscore the deep-rooted flaws in Nigeria’s governance and law enforcement systems. The association said while Nigerians are still reeling from the shameful imprisonment and torture of minors for protesting against hunger, they were, again, confronted by another brazen disregard of the human rights activist. Ironically, the Pyrates Confraternity pointed out that the alleged offence of defamation, for which Farotimi was reportedly arrested, is a civil matter under Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code. “Law enforcement must never be weaponised to target individuals or institutions for personal or political reasons. Upholding the rule of law is a non-negotiable cornerstone of any democratic society, and any deviation from this principle threatens the very fabric of justice and accountability,” it stated. The association argued that Farotimi’s persistent advocacy for justice and his documented outcries, including threats to his life and harassment of his associates, remain unresolved. NAS said instead of investigating these concerns and holding the culprits accountable, the Police again aligned with vested interests. “It is alarming that a civil matter has been distorted into a criminal issue, and the age-old bullying and intimidation tactics have once again been brandished and deployed, showcasing a blatant disregard for professional ethics, the Nigerian Constitution, and the principles of justice. “Such impunity erodes public trust in law enforcement and deepens the disconnect between the government and the people, especially in these delicate times,” the group added. The association, however, warned that this misuse of authority places undue pressure on the Judiciary and the Executive, raising serious questions about their commitment to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding public trust. “It is disheartening that the Nigerian Police repeatedly positions itself as a tool at the whims and caprices of the elites and powerful hegemony. “To stop this rising level of citizens’ harassment, the Pyrates Confraternity is calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to take immediate corrective action and ensure accountability within law enforcement,” NAS said. Similarly, the association calls on the Executive to address these recurring lapses, while the Judiciary must reaffirm its mandate to uphold justice without fear or favour. The group said such measures are essential to prevent future misconduct and restore public confidence in the institutions entrusted with safeguarding our democracy. NAS insisted that the unjust arrests, bullying, and harassment, which have no place in a democratic setting, are not just stains on the rule of law but a renewed wake-up call for all arms of government to recommit to justice, accountability, and the protection of citizens’ rights.

NBA calls for immediate release of Dele Farotimi

Fola Badmus10 months ago10 months ago03 mins

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been deeply concerned by the arrest of Dele Farotimi on allegations of libel. In a statement signed the President of NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN urged the security agency to ensure restraints in the enforcement of the law. The statement reads; “While we recognize the powers of the Nigerian Police Force to arrest and investigate crimes, we firmly believe that such powers must be exercised within the confines of the law and in respect of offenses known to law. “It is in this context that we oppose the arrest of Dele Farotimi on allegations of libel, which is not recognized as a criminal offense under the laws of Lagos State. “The Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 repealed the criminalization of defamation by omitting it from its provisions. “Previously, defamation was criminalized under the Criminal Code applicable in Southern Nigeria. However, Lagos State modernized its criminal law framework through the enactment of the 2011 law, aligning with global best practices that treat defamation as a civil wrong, not a criminal offense. “This position was emphatically affirmed by the Supreme Court in Aviomoh v. Commissioner of Police & Anor (2021), where Justice Helen Ogunwumiju held that defamation ceased to be a criminal offense in Lagos State following the enactment of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. “Furthermore, the Nigerian Police Force derives its powers to arrest and investigate crimes under Sections 4 and 24 of the Police Act, 2020. These provisions mandate the Police to act only in respect of conduct that constitutes a criminal offense under Nigerian law. Arresting individuals for non-criminal matters, such as defamation in Lagos State, is a clear violation of these legal principles and an affront to the rule of law.” The NBA unequivocally demanded the immediate release of Dele Farotimi and calls on the Nigerian Police Force to exercise its powers responsibly and strictly in accordance with the law. “We also urge all law enforcement agencies to prioritize respect for human rights and adherence to the principles of legality, as these are foundational to the administration of justice and the protection of citizens.”