Television Nigerian

Dr. Ebojele Akhere Patrick has been appointed by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to succeed Mr. Fred Itua as Chief Press Secretary.

According to reports, Musa Ikhilor, the Secretary to the State Government, made the news in a statement on Thursday.

Itua will wait for a new post to be announced in due course, according to the statement.

His efforts and contributions throughout his term were acknowledged by the state government.

The statement claims that Ebojele is a well-known journalist with a long history in the media.

According to the statement, “The new appointment reflects commitment of the present administration to strengthen and deepen the communication channels between the government and the people of Edo State, ensuring clarity, transparency, and effective dissemination of Government policies, programs, and activities.”

Dr. Ebojele has worked as an Edo/Delta Correspondent for Channels Television and as a correspondent for New Nigerian Newspaper, Champion Newspaper, and Comet Newspapers, among other respectable Nigerian media outlets.

“He will take over from Mr. Fred Itua, who will wait for a new assignment to be announced in due time after handover. The government thanks Mr. Itua for his service and achievements.

The Department of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), sometimes referred to as Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), has announced that it will appeal a Court of Appeal ruling that prohibited its officers from stopping cars, enforcing penalties, or seizing vehicles belonging to traffic violators.

Deborah Osho, the DRTS’s acting director, revealed this in an interview with Punch on Thursday after the appeal court upheld a Federal High Court verdict.

The VIO’s appeal was denied by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday due to its lack of substance. In a unanimous finding, the three-member tribunal upheld the October 16, 2024 decision that forbade VIO officers from harassing drivers.

The lead judge, Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, determined that the lower court’s decision could not be overturned.

Osho responded by characterizing the decision as harmful to public order and stating that the department would not give up on trying to overturn it.

“We will definitely appeal,” she stated. As a correspondent, are you aware of the current events in the city? Do you not notice how filthy the city is? Take a peek at Airport Road, which is now essentially a one-way street.

Osho bemoaned the Federal Capital Territory’s increasing disdain for traffic laws, attributing it to the DRTS’s incapacity to police adherence.

“If you give them a ticket, they won’t come to pay, but you can’t enforce or impound.” What would you like us to do? “It’s not humorous,” she remarked.

Despite alternative enforcement tactics including computerized ticketing, she disclosed that drivers owing over ₦409 million in unpaid traffic fines.

We don’t even impound in that manner. She said, “If you commit an offense, you are already captured and your bill will be sent to you regardless of whether you accept it or not.”

“Have you ever seen anywhere in the world where traffic is well coordinated without enforcement, and you think it will go well?” said the head of DRTS, arguing that good traffic management is impossible without severe enforcement.

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, filed a motion ex parte to be relocated from the Sokoto Correctional Facility. The Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled the hearing for December 8.

On November 20, 2025, Kanu was found guilty of all seven counts of terrorist charges that the Federal Government had sought against him. He was given a life sentence.

Kanu was moved to the Sokoto Correctional Facility after receiving his sentence because the court was concerned about his safety and noted that the Kuje Correctional Facility might not be appropriate for him because of prior jail breaches that had been documented there.

Kanu chose to defend himself and cut ties with his legal team before to the verdict.

He was informed by Justice Omotosho that he was unable to move such an application.

Justice Omotosho declared, “You are not a lawyer, so you cannot move this ex parte motion on the convict’s behalf.”

Emmanuel was instructed to either hire a lawyer or seek assistance from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria by the court, who insisted that only a professional could make the motion.

“I did not mean his (Kanu’s) father, brother, sister, or relatives when I said representation.” I refer to his advice.

“In the interest of fairness, I won’t discuss the merits of this application right now, but you can only represent a corporate entity if you are not a lawyer. You cannot represent a human being.

Since you are not a lawyer nor a solicitor of the Nigerian Supreme Court, you are unable to move the application.

It will take you an additional six years or more to become qualified as a lawyer. Thus, hire legal counsel to forward the application, the judge stated.

Justice Omotosho stated that Kanu will be accommodated even if there were matters on the docket on Monday when Emmanuel asked for the next postponement date.

Emmanuel said, “Thank you, sir.”

The judge advised against deceiving the public about Kanu’s method of compiling his appeal record.
Contrary to a statement made by Aloy Ejimakor, one of Kanu’s previous attorneys who was later hired as a consultant, Justice Omotosho stated that the convict did not have to be in court in order for his record to be completed.

“Let me give you general advice so that the process doesn’t become delayed. Regarding the appeal, I can’t act as though I don’t belong to society. In order to create his record, Mr. Ejimakor allowed an interview in which he discussed the defendant’s (Kanu) deprivation. That’s a false belief. To create a record, the defendant might not be present in court.

“His presence is not necessary, but his representative’s presence might be. Justice Omotosho pointed out that a defendant’s rights differ from those of a convicted person.

Additionally, when Justice Omotosho asked the attorneys in attendance if Kanu’s participation was necessary before his record could be assembled, they said that it wasn’t.

The judge advised Emmanuel once more to choose an experienced attorney, adding that any attorney who is egregiously deficient in appellate procedure ought to cease deceiving the public.

“I believe it’s time to confront the correct viewpoint. “Adequate legal counsel is essential,” he stated.

The judge postponed the hearing of the ongoing application until December 8 after declining to grant Emmanuel audience.

Kanu requested an order in the ex parte motion he personally signed stating that the motion should be deemed moved in absentia and in accordance with the application because he was unable to be present in court or chambers to personally move it.

Additionally, he requested an order for the Nigerian Correctional Service and/or the Federal Government “to forthwith transfer him from the Sokoto Correctional Facility to a custodial facility within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”

In order to enable the applicant to successfully pursue his constitutionally protected right of appeal, he further requested an order moving him to the court’s “immediate environs, such as the Suleja or the Keffi Custodial Center.”

Kanu claimed, citing eight grounds in the application designated FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, that he was found guilty and given a life sentence on November 20. The judge also ordered his confinement in any Nigerian correctional facility other than Kuje.

The applicant was moved to the Sokoto Correctional Facility on November 21, 2025, and is still being held there more than 700 kilometers from Abuja.

“The applicant plans to personally use his constitutional right of appeal against the conviction and punishment; he is not currently represented by counsel.

“The applicant must personally interact with the Registry of this Honourable Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja in order to prepare the notice of appeal and the record of appeal.”

“All persons critical to assisting the applicant in preparing his appeal, including his relatives, associates, and legal consultants, are based in Abuja,” the motion added.

“In violation of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the applicant’s continued detention in Sokoto renders his constitutional right to appeal impracticable, causing exceptional hardship and potentially defeating the said right,” he stated.

Kanu contended that moving him to a facility close to Abuja so he could successfully pursue his appeal would be in the best interests of justice.

Mohammed Bago, the governor of Niger State, has retracted his previous assertion that no pupils were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.

Speaking on Thursday at an eight-day conference for newly elected local government chairmen and commissioners, Bago acknowledged the event and voiced profound sorrow about the kidnapping of more than 250 students and their teachers.

The governor, speaking through his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, called the act “heartbreaking” and “unacceptable.”

“I must speak from the heart on a matter that concerns us all, the unfortunate abduction of schoolchildren and teachers at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government,” Bago stated before delving further into the next sessions.

“This is extremely unacceptable and has caused much concern in our state. As a parent and the state’s chief security officer, I understand the suffering of every parent who is waiting impatiently for their kids to come home.

He reassured the public that efforts are being made by the administration to improve security throughout the state and to guarantee the victims’ safe return.

According to Bago, the retreat was intended to train senior officials for the duties of governing under the “New Niger” vision of his administration.

“This Executive Retreat is not just another event on the government calendar,” he declared. It is a time for introspection, preparation, and strategic alignment with renewed vigor for our common goal of realizing the New Niger vision.

“Servant-leadership, which is defined by competence, responsibility, honesty, teamwork, and above all, results-oriented leadership, is required by our mandate.”

Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government, stated in his own words that the retreat’s objectives are to improve cooperation and promote a common goal among government appointees.

He asked all officials to serve as the “engine room” for the administration’s success and reminded the recently elected chairmen of their duty to promote growth at the local level.

Due to serious staffing shortages, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been compelled to reject at least five serving senators in response to an enormous increase in demand for private protection services.

This disclosure was made two weeks after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered on November 26 that 11,566 police officers be removed from private guard assignments in order to reallocate security personnel to address the growing level of national insecurity.

The agency has been overburdened, according to an anonymous NSCDC officer, with demands for private protection having more than doubled since the presidential directive.

“We are under strain because of the increase in VIP demands for protection. The volume of demands has forced us to reject five senators. The officer told THE WHISTLER, “We just do not have the manpower to satisfy everyone, and the situation is overwhelming.”

According to its Act, the NSCDC’s primary responsibilities include community safety and disaster management, as well as the security of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), which includes telecommunications sites, power plants, and oil pipelines.

“Every day, new applications come in from politicians, businessmen, and even community leaders,” the officer emphasized, emphasizing that the Corps cannot neglect this fundamental responsibility. However, we continue to prioritize important assets and national infrastructure. Our fundamental mandate cannot be abandoned.

In order to address increased insecurity, particularly recent high-profile attacks and kidnappings of kids, President Tinubu declared a national security emergency, which included the removal of police escorts.

According to Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), 11,566 police officers were relieved of their VIP responsibilities.

In order to improve frontline policing, it is anticipated that these withdrew officers will receive crash retraining before being deployed right away to unstable areas.

The President also commanded the use of NYSC camps as training facilities and ordered the huge recruitment of an extra 20,000 police officers, bringing the total to 50,000.

In essence, the NSCDC and authorized private security companies now bear the responsibility for private protection. Even though the NSCDC has a dedicated VIP Protection Unit, there appears to be a serious manpower shortage, which could cause a delay in the full rollout of services to satisfy the increased demand.

Nigeria’s national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has cautioned that since Nigeria is still the only democracy in the Sahel, it must fiercely defend its democratic system.

Ribadu issued the warning on Thursday during a workshop in Abuja on averting violence and strife in northern Nigeria. The Kukah Center, the National Peace Committee, and the Office of the National Security Adviser coordinated the event.

In light of military takeovers in nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad, Ribadu pointed out that Nigeria is the region’s last shining example of constitutional rule.

“This phase will pass, but we are going through painful times,” he stated. Our region’s nations—from the Sahel to East Africa and South Asia—face comparable or even longer-lasting difficulties. In the entire Sahel, Nigeria is still the sole democracy in operation, and we must preserve this accomplishment.

Ribadu promised that individuals endangering the peace and unity of the country will face severe consequences from the Nigerian government.

“Let me be clear: the Nigerian state remains fully committed to law, order, and the protection of citizens,” he said.

“In accordance with our obligations to protect human rights and safeguard lives, any individual or group that exploits communities, spreads terror, or attempts to undermine national unity will face coordinated and decisive action.”

Nigeria had obtained 775 convictions related to terrorism, according to the NSA, highlighting advancements in counterterrorism operations through cooperation between security agencies, communities, and the judiciary.

Ribadu emphasized that the majority of security issues start locally and advocated for increased participation in peacebuilding from subnational governments, religious leaders, communities, and traditional rulers.

“There is much less need for the use of armed forces when communities are empowered to settle their own conflicts and prevent violence,” he stated.

In order to restore confidence and strengthen resilience throughout northern Nigeria, he called for the translation of discussions into action.

False Security Is Offered by Arms: Kukah
Prior to this, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Convener of the National Peace Committee, emphasized that every Nigerian was either directly or indirectly impacted by insecurity.

He said that arming communities would merely provide a “false sense of security,” warning against the notion that doing so would address the issue.

According to Kukah, “there is a growing belief that communities can arm themselves to defend themselves.” However, using weapons won’t solve our issues. They provide a deceptive feeling of safety. And where are those weapons going to end up when peace returns?

Kukah continued, citing scripture, saying, “Jesus asked Peter to put back his sword; this was not an accident.” The truth never changes, even though circumstances might.

He urged women and young people to be involved in crafting peace initiatives and called on civil society to accept its purpose.

The Edo State House of Assembly ad hoc committee that is looking into the ownership and funding of the Radisson Hotel and the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) has issued a warning, citing its constitutional authority to issue an arrest warrant for former governor Godwin Obaseki for his refusal to appear before the committee.

According to reports, Governor Monday Okpebholo asked the House to look into the state’s ₦3.8 billion investment in MOWAA and ₦28 billion investment in the Radisson Hotel project, which led to the committee’s formation.

On Thursday, the committee voiced its unhappiness after Obaseki and a number of others declined invitations, sending legal representatives who justified their absence by claiming ongoing legal proceedings.

Addeh Isibor, the committee’s chairman, asserted that lawsuits could not halt the committee’s operations and that the panel had the legal right to require participation.

During the committee’s next meeting, Isibor stated, “These gentlemen have unilaterally chosen to absent themselves, citing court cases regarding our sitting or issues under consideration.”

We are intelligent individuals, not idiots. Investigations are required by the Constitution. A stay of proceedings cannot be obtained by simply filing a lawsuit in court.

Isibor said that none of the attorneys included legitimate court procedures in their correspondence, denouncing what he called attempts to impede the committee’s work.

The fact that none of the SANs included court procedures to the letters is even more disrespectful. These are blank letters. They wish to prevent this committee from addressing the core of the issue.

“We consider the letters to be unworthy. He stated, “The Edo Assembly is not a party to the suit, but the committee retains the right to involve law enforcement to ensure compliance.”

Former Commissioner for Finance Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and important stakeholders from businesses connected to the projects, such as Tilbury House Nigeria Ltd., Hospitality Investment and Management Company, Afrinvest Capital Ltd., Meristem Trustees Ltd., and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd., were among those invited alongside Obaseki.

The investigation comes after demonstrators attacked MOWAA on November 9, alleging the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin, causing a high-profile exhibition there to devolve into turmoil.

Security personnel hurried to evacuate dignitaries as the preview, which was intended for international diplomats, businesspeople, and artists, came to a premature stop.

Later, footage of scared visitors—including German and European Union ambassadors—being led out under strict security went viral.

A serving magistrate named Mohammed Suleiman Kumo was charged with three counts of bribery and extortion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in front of Gombe State High Court Judge H.H. Kereng.

On December 3, 2025, the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate filed charges against Kumo, a magistrate at the Chief Magistrate Court in Pantami.

According to the charges, Magistrate Kumo received ₦1.4 million in financial advantages through the bank account of Adamu Ahmed, the court registrar.

Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 is violated by the accused offences.

In particular, there are two alleged instances of accepting money:

The Registrar’s Zenith Bank Account (number 2273938871) received ₦1,000,000.

₦400,000 was received via the same Registrar’s Zenith Bank Account on or around November 11, 2024.

The anti-graft Act’s referenced clause makes it illegal for anybody to request, accept, or obtain property or benefits for themselves or any other person as a result of whatever they have done or will do in the course of performing their official duties.

Violating this clause carries a seven-year jail sentence.

According to reports, Magistrate Kumo entered a not guilty plea to each of the three allegations.

Abubakar Aliyu, the prosecuting attorney, sought the court to send the defendant to the Gombe State Correctional Center and to set a trial date.

However, the prosecution opposed a bail motion made by defense attorney Adamu Bawa.

The defendant was granted temporary bail by Justice Kereng.

The judge used Kumo’s prior administrative bail grant from the EFCC and his voluntary appearance in court from home as justification for the ruling.

In order to make a decision regarding the official bail application and to begin the hearing, the court has postponed the case to January 13 and 14, 2026.

According to Dennis Amachree, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency will be unsuccessful unless individuals who are funding or undermining national security initiatives are apprehended and prosecuted.

Amachree made the comments on Politics Today, a Channels Television program, in response to worries over the military’s internal sabotage and the nation’s growing insecurity.

“I believe that arrests are necessary for this state of emergency to be more effective,” he stated.

“Let’s not simply state that these individuals have been identified as financiers and that no arrests have been made.”

He emphasized the need for urgent action to rebuild public trust, arguing that pronouncements alone are insufficient.

“There should be arrests, and of course we should instill fear in their hearts to ensure that they can’t just do anything and get away with it,” he declared.

In response to allegations of a military withdrawal before schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi and Major General Musa Uba was killed, Amachree issued a warning that saboteurs within the military and political class needed to be exposed.

“I believe there are saboteurs, and we should be aware that they are prevalent in both politics and the military,” he stated.

However, he added he had faith in Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), the new Minister of Defense, who had already stated his commitment to pursue individuals undermining security efforts.

Recall that in reaction to a recent spike in banditry, terrorism, and mass kidnappings, President Tinubu proclaimed a national security emergency on November 26.

The President ordered the use of certain NYSC camps as training facilities for security personnel and authorized the increase in police and military recruitment.

As part of the plan to strengthen internal security, he added, police training facilities have been upgraded nationwide.