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Protest organisers split, say members bribed to sabotage rally

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Protest organisers split, say members bribed to sabotage rally

The #EndBadGovernance protest, which began in major cities across the country on Thursday may be losing steam following a division among leaders of the major groups mobilising Nigerians for the mass demonstration.

Some of the organisers accused the Federal Government of financially inducing some members to sabotage the protest and weaken its strength after threats from the police and military failed to stop the movement.

Sunday According gathered that the crack within the camp of the protest organisers became evident on Friday, when their lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa SAN, called for a suspension of the protest, citing the killings and looting recorded on day one of the protest.

In a statement on Friday, Adegboruwa said the violence necessitated the need for the protesters and their leaders to withdraw and give room for dialogue with the government.

He stated, “Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties. The organisers of the protests and their representatives should embrace dialogue with the government.”

However, a former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, dismissed Adegboruwa’s position, saying the learned silk only spoke for himself.

“No, it is his personal opinion and he’s spoken only, based on his understanding of how the narrative was being twisted,” he said.

Also, a leading mass mobilisation groups, Take It Back Movement, distanced itself from Adegboruwa.

The Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said Adegboruwa does not speak for them.

In a tweet shared on his verified X handle on Saturday, Adenola said, “Our protest extends for the next 10 days and beyond! Learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboruwa is not our lawyer, he doesn’t speak for us! Abuja people, your comrades in the struggle are already converged at the National Stadium as we speak, join them! This fight is our fight, not their fight!”

Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday, the legal adviser to the Take It Back Movement, Festus Ogun, also disagreed with Adegboruwa’s position, saying only a national broadcast from President Bola Tinubu would take the protesters off the streets.

Ogun said, “The protest is beyond one individual; it is a movement of the people, a movement of common Nigerians. We respect his (Adegboruwa) opinion, and we respect his advice, but the issue is not about Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa; the issue is about the President, who is acting as if he can’t hear Nigerians.

“If we back down at this time, it shows that we are a conquered people. The President has not spoken, he has not given us reasons to back down. The protest is a pro-people movement, so if anybody collects money from the authorities, the person is just collecting money for himself. Anyone that is given money is only given money for himself because it is a pro-people movement and not an organisation.”

But another group, Timely Intervention, backed Adegboruwa’s call, asking other civil society groups to pull out of the protest following the violence recorded in some states.

Speaking to our correspondent on Friday, a member of the executive board of the organisation, Tunde Phillips, said, “I am just leaving the protest venue in Abuja right now, and our group has agreed to suspend the protest. It has become too violent. For instance, today, I would have been shot if not that I ran fast. Some people, I am sure, would have been injured, if not killed. The protest should be suspended.”

Another group that was part of the early mobilisers for the protest, Active Citizens Group, also backed Adegboruwa’s position.

A member of the groups’ National Working Committee, Adaeze Onoja, said the executive members decided to pull out because the protest had been hijacked by hoodlums.

“Hoodlums have hijacked the protest. We are pulling out. I just left an emergency NWC meeting and that was our decision,” she said in an interview with the Sunday According.

Meanwhile, in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, the National Chairman of the Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria, one of the groups spearheading the protests in the North, Jabir Yaro, said the mass action was losing ground because some organisers had been allegedly bribed to disorganise it.

He said, “There are individuals, who have been paid to disorganise this protest, and these are the people causing problems and division. The only significant thing is that our leader, Ibrahim Abdulkarim, was arrested while engaging in a peaceful protest but we are following it up.”

Also, one of the leaders of the protest in Osun State, Emmanuel Olowu, alleged that the federal government committed funds to discredit the demonstration.

Olowu, who is the Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in the state, said the groups claiming to be pulling out or dissociating themselves from the protest were pro-government.

He said, “Before the commencement of this struggle, some people have been addressing press conferences to dissociate themselves from it. Some others have also claimed they are pulling out from the protest. These sets of people were never part of us. They are pro-government reactionaries. They have been compromised by the government against their conscience.”

However, Ogun insisted that no amount of financial inducement by the government would stop Nigerians from continuing with the mass action.

Suspects in Ajumogobia daughter’s killing will face murder charges – Police

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Suspects in Ajumogobia daughter’s killing will face murder charges – Police

The Lagos State Police Command has said suspects arrested over the death of Aribemchukwu, the slain daughter of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, may be charged with conspiracy and murder.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this following an enquiry by our correspondent on Saturday.

Saturday According reported that the deceased, popularly called Chuchu, was reportedly killed in her Parkview Estate residence in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Although a family source said she was killed Tuesday night, her lifeless body was discovered on Wednesday morning outside the gate of her residence.

Her three domestic staff; the house help, a security guard and a driver, were however arrested in connection to the murder.

Hundeyin said the suspects were still being held in custody due to ongoing investigation.

He added that they would appear in court after the conclusion of the investigation.

“Investigation is still ongoing and that is why the suspects are still in police custody. Once the investigation is concluded, they will be charge to court. They may be charged for conspiracy and murder,” he said.

Hundeyin added that part of the investigation included ascertaining the availability of the CCTV at the home of the deceased.

He said, “Whether CCTV was available in the apartment or not will be revealed as soon as the investigation is concluded.”

A police source had told our correspondent that the suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation.

The source also clarified that the deceased was murdered inside her room and her body was thereafter dragged from the spot outside the gate where it was dumped.

According to the source, the suspects attempted to clean up the blood stains but missed some spots because the act was perpetrated at night.

“The deceased was killed in her room and her body was dragged to the front of the gate to make it look like she was killed on the spot. After that, all the blood stains were carefully cleaned but still, they missed some spots.  They did not clean it well because it happened at night.”

“The house help did not even deny their involvement. She said, “We do am, na we do am” during interrogation, and everything she said tallied with the evidence on the ground,” the source disclosed.

The suspects were also said to have immediately packed all the valuables of the deceased after killing their boss.

The source also confirmed that three domestic workers were employed at the same time, a week before the incident.

Until her death, the late Aribemchukwu was a doctor and had recently married.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said an investigation was still ongoing.

Gunmen kill seven Imo village heads

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Gunmen kill seven Imo village heads

Tragedy struck again in Imo State on Saturday evening when some gunmen reportedly shot dead the President-General of Umucheke Okwe autonomous community in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Hyginus Ohazurike.

Six village heads from the autonomous community were also allegedly killed by the gunmen.

An indigene of the community, who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday According that the gunmen, who operated in a vehicle, struck while the victims were having a meeting in the community.

The source said, “Some gunmen have just shot dead the President-General of Umucheke Okwe autonomous community and six village heads.

“The PG and the village heads were having a meeting at the PG’s shop, located at the community’s market when the attackers arrived.

“On arrival, the gunmen opened fire, killed all the community leaders, and set the place ablaze. All the community chiefs died in the attack.”

Visibly apprehensive, the source added that nobody knew the reason for the attack.

He added, “Nobody knew the agenda of the meeting. They were having a meeting at the PG’s shop when the gunmen arrived. They opened fire, killed all the village chiefs in attendance, and burnt the place before driving off.”

Sunday According reports that following the dastardly act, residents of the village have fled their homes.

The sole administrator of the local government area, Emeka Obi, who confirmed the killings when contacted, said he was addressing his constituents.

Condemning the killings, he urged everybody to remain calm.

Imo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, had yet to respond to our correspondent’s enquiry as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that some gunmen had in the past killed a ward chairman of the All Progressives Congress and seven others in the same community.

Last week, beginning from Monday, some gunmen killed four policemen and a Point of Sale operator at Irette community, located on the Owerri – Onitsha expressway in Owerri, the state capital.

Also on Monday, some gunmen killed one person and set a vehicle ablaze when they attacked Umuelemai junction at Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state.

The following day, on Tuesday, some gunmen killed a businessman, Okey Nze, popularly known as Wealthy Empire, at Amawire junction in Orji community, in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.

On the same day, a policeman identified as OC Ireozor was shot dead by gunmen, alongside a community chief, Paulinus Mbakwe, at Nworieubi community in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.

Lagos intervenes as woman battles monarch for demolishing property, selling land

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Lagos intervenes as woman battles monarch for demolishing property, selling land

In the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, a fierce land battle is unfolding, pitting a 64-year-old woman against a monarch in a dispute that has turned the spotlight on longstanding issues of land ownership in the state. BABATUNDE TITILOLA reports

When Mrs Olaitan Ogunseye purchased a parcel of land from the royal family of Mushade Odugate of the Majolagbe Family in Ikorodu, Lagos State, in 2000, neither she nor her husband thought the purchase would be marred by heartbreaking controversies.

According to documents seen by this reporter, the 64-year-old woman bought the land located on Chris Aghanenu Street, Eyita, in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state from one of the monarch’s relatives in 2000, with complete documentation and a receipt.

Dated May 5, 2000, the joint signatures on the receipt were Haruna Saka, Sita Saka, Lasisi Saka, and Kehinde Saka. Sadly, Ogunseye’s hopes of building her family’s dream home were soon crushed after she was diagnosed with an illness that took some time to recover from. She left Nigeria to seek better treatment abroad, spending money, time, and energy on the traumatising experience.

When she eventually began construction on the land in 2007, her health failed her again. However, this time around, she was bent on overcoming all health obstacles to complete her dream home.

From one trouble to another

Not long after Ogunseye started sharing her money between paying for medical treatments and building her house, another devastating news came in.

She said, “We began construction in 2007. When the structure reached the lintel phase, I had another health complication. It was a terrible experience, but I survived. After surviving the medical challenges, I returned to the site to complete the building.

“I bought all the materials needed to complete the house. Some boys came to me one day and said they would not allow me or any other person to work on the site.”

She explained that the hoodlums directed her to the palace to meet with the Eletu of Oke-Eletu, Chief Adeniyi Ajayi, the current head of the Mushade Odugate Royal House, to resolve whatever issues they were having over the land before she would be allowed to continue construction.

Ogunseye, feeling stunned by the development, approached the monarch but was met with a more shocking welcome.

“He (the monarch) said he would kill us and any other person he sees on the land,” she claimed.

This, according to her, was the beginning of another battle with no end in sight. She was not only about to lose the land, but also the money, time, and resources she and her husband spent to raise the building on it.

N2.5m compensation, building demolition

Continuing her story, Ogunseye said all efforts to appeal to the monarch at his palace proved unsuccessful as she left with the fear that she had lost everything.

She added, “It was when we got outside of the palace that one of the monarch’s boys saw my condition and told us to beg the monarch with N2.5m,” she added as her voice reflected the agony she had been through.

“I told the man that I would bring N1m to the palace so that we could plead with the monarch but he refused the money and said the monarch had already seen someone willing to pay N10m for the property.

“The next time I visited the palace with other family members to plead with the monarch, he chased me out. But my relatives and his subordinates stayed behind to beg him. He later agreed and said he would give us his response two weeks later.

“We didn’t hear anything from him again. We called him but he did not pick up. So, we had to go to his palace again. There, he told us that once he was done with what he was doing on my property, he would give us another land.”

Ogunseye told Sunday According that by the time she was able to come up with the N2.5m to appease the monarch, the building had already been demolished and the land sold to another person.

She said, “We later called the monarch’s subordinate about the money, but he said there was nothing he could do again. So, I went to my site. On getting there, I saw loads of blocks on my site. I was told the blocks belonged to the people he (the monarch) sold my land to. The second time I went there, I observed that they had dug holes to fence my property.

“When I saw what was happening on my property, I met with other leaders in the community to help me appeal to the king not to take my land. They did, and he promised to work things out. A few days later, my building was demolished, and they started erecting another structure on my property.”

Cry for justice

Left helpless, Ogunseye decided to seek the intervention of a third-party.

In a petition dated July 30, 2024, which Sunday According obtained, the Ogunseye family appealed to state Commissioners for Justice, Lawal Pedro, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bolaji Robert, and urged the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to protect their land and ensure the safety of their daughter.

A part of the petition read, “Sometimes, in July 2024, Olaitan Ogunseye was invited by Ajayi (the monarch) through his emissary, Kazeem Kolawole (Baale Aja), to ratify her ownership by paying the sum of N2.5m after failing to pay the initial ratification fee of N400,000.”

In another petition signed by Ogunseye’s lawyer, Tomilola Adeniji, she asked the authorities to protect her from “the land-grabbing Ajayi and his hired thugs and assailants,” while demanding “protection of Ogunseye’s property and compensation for the demolished property.”

Land-grabbing in Lagos

Several real estate investors and local homeowners in Nigeria have their share of experiences with landgrabbers sacking them from the lands they believed to have legally purchased.

Findings by this reporter showed that land grabbing might have become a multimillionaire business as wealthy socialites and royal figures are often entangled in the series of accusations of unlawfully dispossessing hapless citizens of their land.

This act done by landgrabbers, popularly called ‘Omo Onile,’ involves armed hoodlums storming construction sites to demand money from owners of property, and illegally taking possession of land.

In a letter addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, on July 27, 2024, residents of Precious Seeds Community in the Oworonshoki area of the state, accused the traditional ruler and the Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Saliu, of enlisting hoodlums to forcibly evict them from their homes.

In July 2023, a local chief of Lootu town, Fatai Jubril, was shot to death in front of his teenage daughter and pregnant wife in the Ibeju Lekki area of the state after an alleged dispute over land ownership between him and another chief in the community.

Also, occupants of Millennium City Centre Estate in Gbagada, Lagos, accused five families of Oyedele Ashamu, Antonio Miranda, Atunrase, Alashe, and Odutola of pressuring them to repurchase the land.

The residents further accused the Alashe family of sponsoring armed miscreants to intimidate them in a bid to either repurchase the lands or leave.

Monarch disagrees

Responding to the allegations raised by Ogunseye during a telephone call, Ajayi told Sunday According that the allegations against him were not true and he was acting on an order obtained from the High Court.

“There were judgments in 2007 and 2020. There was a consent judgment,” he added.

In a subsequent inquiry forwarded to Ajayi’s lawyer, Olatunji Osikoya, this reporter was referred to a publication made by the monarch’s family alleging that Ogunseye failed to comply with the terms of settlement contained in the court order.

The publication, with reference to the court order obtained in suit IKD/540LMW/2015 read in part, “Terms of settlement was filed and duly adopted by the court to the knowledge of Mrs Olaitan Ogunseye and other members of Unity Estate, all of whom were represented by a revered senior counsel.

“By the said consent judgement, the members of Unity Estate including Mrs Olaitan Ogunseye, were to discharge their obligations to the Mushade Odugate Family within a specified time, which time lag had since lapsed for more than three years.

“Note that the consent judgment contains forfeiture in the event of failure to comply with its terms. Mrs Olaitan Ogunseye failed to abide by the terms of the consent judgment since March 2020. Hence, the family took appropriate steps in the circumstance.”

“We are unaware of court orders”

Reacting to the accounts contained in the publication made by the Mushade Odugate Family, Ogunseye’s husband, Tayo, while speaking with Sunday According, said the family was not informed about any obligation to be discharged and relied on the payment receipt that showed the authenticity of the land sale.

He said, “We were never informed of any payment as our building was still under construction. The reason we did not complete the building on time was because of her (my wife’s) condition. She had three medical surgeries. She had two in Nigeria and one in the UK. We have the survey of the land and other documents.

“We later learnt that they asked those who had buildings in the community to pay about N200,000 for rectification. They said it was the court that gave the judgment. We did not know about this until later because we had not yet completed the structure. We want our land to be returned to us. And he should compensate us for demolishing our property.”

Tayo explained that the family had yet to see any court order and noted that they received an invitation for an out-of-court settlement which, was surprising.

He said, “We have not seen any of the court orders that they claimed to have. I have just commissioned some people to get the case file for me. Now, they are asking for a settlement. And that has further aroused my curiosity. If you are sure of the documents you claim you have and after you have maliciously destroyed somebody’s structure, why are you asking for an out-of-court settlement?

“We are not aware of any judgement obtained in 2007 or 2020. We were not aware of anything because my wife had been terminally ill. It was God that saved her. So, we have no idea about any judgement. They claimed that all these were happening because we did not pay N400,000. And we were not aware of any N400,000 payment. This is impunity. We have been cheated, and we suffered malicious damage to our property.”

Legal viewpoint

A human rights lawyer, Collins Aigbogun, said land grabbing had become a national issue that continually threatens individual rights.

He said, “Once a land has been sold, they can go back to reclaim the land. This is usually dominant in southwest Nigeria, where certain people refer to themselves as landowners, attacking and grabbing the land that has been legitimately purchased. This is an infringement on the rights of individuals.”

Also reacting, a commercial transaction lawyer, Maxwell Adigun, said internal conflicts within families controlling land often cause issues for buyers.

He added, “The aggrieved party should approach the court for a redress. If the buyers feel like they legally bought the land and can provide receipts and relevant documents to back up their claims, then they cannot be stopped from approaching the court. On the other hand, if the sale of land is not in dispute, then, everything else could be settled out-of-court.”

Case under investigation – Authorities

A source in the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers said the agency did not want to comment on the matter for now.

“They (taskforce officials) prefer to face their work and discover what is going on. It is not about talking. It is about finding out what truly happened,” the source said.

However, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, said the case had been transferred to appropriate authorities and the parties would be invited.

“We have been notified of the matter. The Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers and all relevant offices have been notified too, including the Commissioner for Local Government and the Commissioner for Community Affairs. The Commissioner for Local Government said he got the letter and they have stepped in. They are all interested in the matter.

“We also saw the publication they (the monarch’s family) made yesterday. They said they were acting on a court judgement. So, we are aware and already investigating the matter,” Omotosho said.

  • Additional report by UTHMAN SALAMI

Ex-envoys, former military officers worry as demonstrators wave Russian flag

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Ex-envoys, former military officers worry as demonstrators wave Russian flag

Some Nigerians, including a former general and ex-diplomats, have expressed worry after some protesters in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest waved what appeared like the Russian flag.

They said the scene did not portend well for the country and warned Nigerians and the Federal Government to guard against foreign incursion.

The nationwide protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, was in response to the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.

No fewer than 17 people were reportedly killed by security agents, who also arrested many protesters across the country.

On Saturday, photos and videos of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag went viral as the demonstrators chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”

Some prominent Nigerians raised concerns about the security implications for the country.

A lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, said the images indicated the growing support for Russia in Northern Nigeria.

He wrote, “Two aspects of the ongoing hunger protest in Nigeria particularly intrigue me. Firstly, there is a small but growing support for Russia and a corresponding rise in anti-West sentiment, especially in Northern Nigeria. Some protesters in Kano carried the Nigerian flag alongside the Russian flag, and there have been calls from some participants for demonstrators to bring Russian flags and photos of Vladimir Putin to seek Russia’s assistance.

“More concerning is that these protesters do not seem to be affiliated with any pro-Russian group; they simply made amateur flags as observed by @Aliyussufiy who took the first photo, suggesting that this sentiment is developing organically. This trend is likely to expand, especially as malign actors may observe and exploit it.”

A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, asked the authorities to monitor the situation and take precautions.

“This may indicate various underlying sentiments or influences that need to be carefully assessed and addressed by the government,” he added.

An award-winning journalist, Philip Obaji Jr. said, “President Vladimir Putin and Russia must be excited to learn that Russian flags were displayed by a number of protesters in Kano in northwestern Nigeria during today’s Enough Is Enough protest to #EndBadGovernace.”

Russia, an Eastern power, has been fingered in the coup d’etats in some West African countries, notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The military governments of the three countries have also pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States being chaired by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria.

A social media user, Kawu Garba, called on the Department of State Services to investigate the incident.

He said, “Why are the protesters in Kano raising Russian flags? Is Russia sponsoring protests in Nigeria to cause anarchy? @OfficialDSSNG needs to investigate this.”

Also, a political commentator, Kayode Ogundamisi, said the protesters might be ignorant.

He said, “Whichever of the divide that may be responsible for distributing those Russian flags, either pro or anti-protest, that person dey mad. You lot have ABSOLUTELY, no idea! Beware of what you wish for.”

The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said he was not aware of the images but promised to get back to our correspondent. He had yet to do so as of press time.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, and the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not pick their calls and had yet to respond to the messages sent to them as of the time of filing this report.

Security experts raise the alarm

Analysing the presence of the Russian flag, a retired Brig.-Gen., Bashir Adewinbi, cautioned Nigerians against conspiring with external forces to undermine the country’s democracy and security.

Adewinbi, while speaking with Sunday According, described the situation as unfortunate.

He said, “It is unfortunate that some Nigerians are waving foreign flags in a national protest. Our people should be careful; they should not create room for anybody to destroy our country.

“I must say that a coup can never happen in Nigeria. There can be no coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu. The security chiefs are with him and he has educated them. I don’t think any senior officer will come out and announce anything like a coup in Nigeria. We are all united, we are for the unity of the people, and we will maintain it. We will protect our democracy.”

A former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, called on the organisers of the protest to avoid any external influence.

Farounbi said, “It is an unfortunate incident to fly the flag of a foreign country during your protest. When you recall that there is Russian presence in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Congo, one begins to wonder that you may be having an externalisation or an external indication of an internal domestic protest against certain circumstances.

“It is tragic, and I do not think that is what the organisers wanted. Certainly, that is not what Nigerians want. They do not want Nigeria to become impacted by ideological warfare between the West and the East. They do not want to see a replacement of Russia-backed military action in Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate. Perhaps, it is a reason for the patriotic organisers of the protest to stop the demonstration before it becomes something that some people will take over from them or turn Nigeria to a pawn.

“Those who are supported by this Russian regime have broken away from ECOWAS to form a separate body. It is something that other West African countries should be wary of.”

A retired Director at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adesola Abolurin, called for the intervention of the Economic Community of West Africa States.

He attributed the call for Russian intervention in Northern Nigeria to the closeness of Niger Republic to the region.

Abolurin said, “This should not be unexpected given the volatile situation of that region, particularly since they are nearer to Niger Republic, so that is expected and, the organisers of the protest should have known that the protest will be hijacked by foreign agencies; where do they get the Russian flags from? They must have gotten them from across the border and one will expect that people will infiltrate our border from Niger and Somali and that is exactly what has happened now.

“The Russian flags must have come directly from the border. And the earlier the ECOWAS intervene in the crisis in the region, particularly in Niger Republic and Mali, the earlier they approach them, appeal to them to come back to the fold, the better.

“Already in Kano they have the issue of Emirship and this should have put into consideration by security agencies, but unfortunately, that was never done. They have a lot of problems already in the North, every little destruction in the North will escalate from the other side”.

A former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, suggested that those waving the Russian flag and dancing during the protests might not be Nigerians.

“The people flying Russian flags and dancing during the protest may not be Nigerians but Nigeriens,” Akinterinwa said.

He emphasised that the protest, initially planned for August 1 to 10, could shift towards a more aggressive demand for President Tinubu’s resignation due to accusations of bad governance.

The former NIIA DG warned, “The situation we have now could prompt a coup d’état.”

On his part, a former Director of DSS, Mike Ejiofor, said the government and security agencies must not handle the issue with kid gloves.

“In the security circle, you don’t dismiss such negative display. You will recall that the DSS had an intelligence report that there was a foreign influence in what is going on and that what the protesters are trying to achieve is a regime change. Russia has no business in interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

“We have to intensify our intelligence gathering efforts both the national intelligence agency and the state security service must look at these threats even though they had highlighted them earlier. Citizens must also be security conscious of whatever that is happening around them”, Ejiofor said.

Col. Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal, the Head of Research Savannah Centre for Development and Training said, “The main issue is about regime security and the Russians do not mind having military coup detat and military government in this State, but the US and the Western power are concerned about democracy. The Russians are trying to create regime security for authority in those places where they are threatened.

“This is a new trend that we should watch out for. It means that there are promoters of this new trend and the influence is pressing down from Niger and Mali to continue to distabilise Nigeria. Nigeria should be worried by this, we should be worried because it means that there is an extension of Russian influence in Nigeria now. If you look at what is currently going on in the Sahel, there is a lot of Russian influence in the Sahel, they are already in Sudan, they are in Mali, they are in Niger, they are in Bukina Faso, they are in Central African Republic, so Russian influence in Africa is expanding, I won’t be surprised if there are elements in Kano who want to gnashed into this question of Russian influence in Africa.

“The sentiment of most African countries now is anti-America, they are anti-France and they are looking for alternative security architecture, therefore it is becoming a trend across Africa. You are aware of the Wagner African corps, it is an influence that really pressing down on Africa, they are pressing down on Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic, it is a new trend of security challenges, the sovereignty of Africa is under challenge by Russia and so we are returning to the cold war era with the challenge between the West and Russia”.

Russia denies involvement

But the Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy, Yury Paramonov, denied Russia’s involvement in the ongoing protest in the country.

He said, “The Russian Embassy in Nigeria does not have any information about any groups of protesters using the Russian flag or other state symbols of our country. We have not seen such photo or video materials and would appreciate it if The Punch could provide us with such materials if they exist. Even if such incidents did occur, it would be the decision of individuals. We do not know why they might have used Russian flags.

“The Russian Federation is in no way involved in the current events in Nigeria. Moreover, Russia does not provide any material or financial support to the protesters.”

Hoodlum stripped me naked in public – Protester

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Hoodlum stripped me naked in public – Protester

A protester at the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria demonstration in Bauchi State has described how a hoodlum assaulted and stripped her naked in public.

Aisha Dogara Adamu, a resident of the Bauchi metropolis, recounted the brutalisation she suffered on the first day of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in the state.

She said, “On Thursday, August 1, 2024, as scheduled, peaceful protests took place around the CBN roundabout in Bauchi metropolis around 1 pm to voice our concerns about hardship and insecurity.

“The police fired tear gas at us. I endured the teargas and walked past the security personnel. When I was approaching the State Secretariat, a man I later learned was named Blabla came behind me and began to beat me.”

Aisha tearfully reported that Blabla assaulted her until she was left naked in front of the security station in the area.

“He beat me, kicked me with his feet. What baffled me was the way they stripped me naked in front of the security personnel, and they did nothing.”

According to Dogara, her assailant claimed to have backing from certain authorities to prevent anyone from protesting otn that road.

Discussing her reasons for joining the demonstration, Aisha highlighted the severe inflation and troubling insecurity as her main motivators.

In a related development, Sunday According reported that security operatives at the Bauchi Government House gate clashed with a leader of the Initiative for the Liberalisation of Physically Challenged People on the first day of the hunger protests in the state.

A video trending on social media shows security personnel at the Bauchi Government House wrestling with Hamza Waziri, a person living with a disability, while he was in his wheelchair.

In an interview with our correspondent, Waziri explained that he organised the protest to express his dissatisfaction with the current economic situation of the country.

Seven cops injured in Gombe

Residents of Gombe State have expressed their discontent over being shot at and injured during the August #EndBadGovernance protest.

When our correspondent visited the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe on Saturday, officials at the facility reported that no fewer than eight people had been admitted for medical treatment. According to Sunday According, two have been discharged, while six are still receiving care.

Of these, five are in Accident and Emergency with multiple fractures and lacerations, and one is in the Intensive Care Unit.

One of the patients in ICU, who has two bullet wounds and is on life support, was identified as a victim of police action.

Rabiu Ibrahim, a 27-year-old protester, confirmed his ordeal at the Accident and Emergency ward.

Hassan Haruna, 18, who sells fish for a living, participated in the protest. He said, “I am not a criminal or vandal. I was injured when the police shot teargas around the roundabout. As I tried to escape, I was cut by broken glass that pierced my leg.”

Mohammed Abdulrauf, also 18, recounted being shot by a hunter while fleeing the scene. “I joined the crowd running from the protest and was shot by a hunter for no reason. This has jeopardised my hope of becoming an army officer. I am struggling to get help as I only use my KekeNapep to make a living.”

When contacted, Gombe Police Public Relations Officer ASP Buhari Abdullahi said he was unaware of the exact number of injured protesters but confirmed that about seven officers were injured and treated.

‘Compensate us’

Earlier, the youth #EndbadgovernanceInNigeria hunger protest in Niger State took a violent dimension on Thursday when six of the protesters were killed in Suleja while attempting to invade a police Station.

Four of the victims were allegedly shot dead at a police station while those injured were rushed to a hospital.

A relative of one of the victim, who gave his name as Adamu Gulu, lamented the death of his brother in the hands of security agents.

Gulu said he did not know his brother would die that way, pointing out that his brother’s death would not be in vain.

“My brother was Yahaya Gulu. He was one of those killed in the Suleja hunger protest. When he left home that morning, we did not know that he would not come back alive.

He was full of life and had always spoken about bad governance in Nigeria and how the people should agitate for good governance.

“So, when this protest was first announced, he immediately said he would be a part of the protesters. He did not expect it to become violent.

“In fact, he was always warning people not to be violent by taking any dangerous weapon with them during the protest,” Gulu said.

Asked about what he was going to do about his brother’s death, Gulu noted that he did not know what he would do, adding that some lawyers had decided to take up the issue of compensation for the victims of the protest.

“As it stands, I don’t know what to do. The protest is not over. I am happy that some lawyers have said they are going to take over our cases and demand compensation for the victims.  I expect compensation because the present government caused the protest.

“This is one year after it came to office and it is still asking Nigerians to give them more time, meanwhile, there is so much hardship and hunger in the land,” Gulu said.

Ofili begins 200m quest in Paris

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Ofili begins 200m quest in Paris

Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili will begin her quest for a medal in the women’s 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympics at La Chapelle Arena on Sunday (today), According Sports Extra reports.

This event follows a controversial administrative error that led to her exclusion from the women’s 100m, a situation that has left the athletes and Nigerian sports lovers bewildered and crestfallen.

The 21-year-old, who will also compete in the women’s 4x100m relay, has been encouraged by Sports Minister John Enoh to remain focused despite the setback.

“I was on the matter until the early hours of today (Friday), with the hope of giving Nigerians something to be happy about,” Enoh stated in a statement released on Friday, promising to address the 100m exclusion issue after the Olympics.

Ofili faces stiff competition with top contenders in the event, including the reigning World Champion, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, USA’s Gabby Thomas, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, and Namibia’s Christine Mboma, making it a highly competitive field.

Ofili has already established herself as one of Nigeria’s premier athletes with a 2022 Commonwealth silver medal among other medals.

Known for her explosive speed and strong finish, Ofili is expected to be a formidable contender in the 200-meter heats and beyond.

As she steps onto the track, Ofili carries not only her personal aspirations but also the hopes of millions of Nigerians.

Her performance in the 200m and relay events could potentially secure a medal for Nigeria, adding to the anticipation surrounding her Olympic debut.

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Nigeria not ready to stop fuel importation, analysts warn

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Nigeria not ready to stop fuel importation, analysts warn

Some experts in the oil and gas sector have said Nigeria was not ripe to stop the importation of refined petroleum products, asking the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority not to bow to pressure.

The experts stated this in the wake of allegations by the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, that the Dangote refinery wanted him to stop issuing licences for the importation of fuel.

Ahmed held that he did not grant the request to avoid monopoly and ensure energy security in the country.

The comment from the regulator appeared to have irked Nigerians, many of whom called for his removal.

Speaking with our correspondent, an energy consultant, Henry Adigun, condemned the NMDPRA for making comments about the Dangote refinery in public.

He held that most of the things said by Ahmed were true, but they sought not to be made public.

According to Adigun, Nigeria should only stop fuel importation when at least three to four refineries are working in the country.

“We cannot stop the importation of fuel now until we have about three to four functioning refineries. We cannot have our energy security in the hands of one person, that’s what the NMDPRA chief executive was trying to say, but it shouldn’t have been a discussion for the press,” Adigun stated.

He added that the government should also consider other investors in the midstream, who may be affected by the sudden stoppage of importation.

The expert noted that depot owners were protected by the Petroleum Industry Act to import fuel, saying that right cannot be taken away from them by a fiat.

According to Adigun, those importing fuel at the moment naturally patronise the Dangote refinery when the price is better than going outside the country to import fuel.

Contrary to speculations, Adigun maintained that it was not feasible that the Dangote refinery would crash the pump price.

He argued that the cost of crude, whether supplied locally or in naira, would be priced according to the international benchmark.

He disclosed that the landing cost of petrol is now around N1,100, which has a lot to do with the cost of production.

However, Adigun said that could only happen if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Dangote have an agreement to sell at a fixed price without recourse to the international benchmark and the fluctuating foreign exchange rate.

Another energy industry expert, Dr Taiwo Ogunleye, said petroleum has remained an important part of the world’s energy mix and the global economy and a cornerstone of the modern energy system, helping to drive the global economy.

He posited that Section 317(8) of the PIA provides that the NMDPRA should apply the backward integration policy to encourage investment in local refining in the downstream petroleum sector.

Similarly, Section 317(9) of the PIA empowers the regulator to assign import licences to companies with active local refining licences or proven track records of international crude oil and petroleum products trading for product shortfalls.

Those powers, he said, should not be hijacked from the regulator under any guise.

The expert noted that import volume allocation should be based on criteria set by the NMDPRA based on refining output in the preceding quarter, share of active wholesale customers, competitive pricing, and prudent supply, storage, and distribution track records, according to Section 317(10) of the PIA.

“The imported petroleum products must conform to Afri-5 Specification (50 ppm sulfur) as per the ECOWAS declaration on adoption of the Afri-Fuels Roadmap or as prescribed by regulation,” he stated.

However, according to the Publicity Secretary of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, Eche Idoko, the government must put a stop to importation as early as possible.

Idoko said local refiners could supply the fuel needed for local consumption if the government fulfils its promise to supply crude to local refineries in the local currency.

How anxiety over hunger protest triggered FG’s emergency policies

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How anxiety over hunger protest triggered FG’s emergency policies

Given how the hunger protest has played out in different locations across the country, IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI examines the Federal Government’s failed attempt to stop the mass demonstration through a series of emergency policies

Nigerians are angry, and their apparent fury was demonstrated across the country on Thursday when they hit different cities to protest against the prevailing economic hardship plaguing them under the current Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Despite frantic efforts, threats, and a series of court orders from the Nigerian Police, the military, and the Federal Government to force them into confined demonstrations, the angry protesters thronged major streets in key states of the federation to register their displeasure, displaying placards with various inscriptions such as #EndBadGovernance, #TinubuMustGo, etc.

They demanded an end to bad governance in the country and the reversal of some of the defining policies of Tinubu’s government, which include the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.

In an apparent displeasure with the socio-economic state of the country, the protesters chanted various solidarity songs, defying spirited efforts from the police to silence them through the firing of teargas canisters.

The protests had begun peacefully but later took a violent turn in some cities as confrontations intensified between the police and the irate throng.

Amid the ensuing violence, no fewer than 17 persons reportedly lost their lives in Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa states, and Abuja during the #EndBadGovernance mass demonstrations.

One person was shot dead in Abuja and Kano, two were killed in Jigawa; six others were reportedly gunned down by security forces in Niger, while four died in Borno and three in Kaduna.

The protests paralysed economic activities in most states of the country as businesses, banks, shopping plazas, and some markets were shut on Thursday over the fear of mass looting and carnage, which later enveloped the demonstrations, especially in some northern states.

According to observers, flashes of growing mass discontent had hit the country days before the protest, sending jitters down the spines of the Federal Government. Amid the development, the state governors and ministers held various emergency meetings to prevent the August 1 showdown, but all to no avail.

Like the 2012 #OccupyNigeria protests and the 2020 #EndSARS demonstration, during which the pushback against government insensitivity and profligacy resounded breathtakingly across the country and even among Nigerians in the Diaspora, many observers believe that the August 1 protest was another avenue for the Nigerian youths to peacefully and collectively register their anger and displeasure with the misery enveloping the country under the present administration.

As initially predicted, the protest snowballed into heavy violence, arson, and carnage. Though the All Progressives Congress had accused the opposition parties of instigating the protest to undermine the Renewed Hope administration, the Nigerian Labour Congress faulted the position.

The NLC said Nigerians wouldn’t have considered hitting the streets in August with placards displaying anti-government hashtags if the current administration had not renewed their dejection and depression with a series of badly implemented economic policies that have toughened the ease of doing business in the country and consistently spiked both food and general inflation.

“The truth is that millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy. A situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and eating from the dustbin is now seen as luxury beckons for serious intervention by the government,” says the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the NLC president cited recent statistics to underscore the scale of the current crisis. He quoted the National Bureau of Statistics, which said approximately 133 million Nigerians live below extreme poverty lines.

Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee also reported that in the first three quarters of 2024, about 32 million Nigerians had been exposed to acute hunger.

With this, Ajaero said, “It is, therefore, condescending and dismissive to describe the daily brutish ordeal that Nigerians are going through as a sponsored political dissent.”

He said every Nigerian had the constitutional right to express their grievances, saying, “During these very difficult times, the right of Nigerians to complain must be fully respected.”

The labour leader further urged a conciliatory approach from the government. He said, “These are dire times. Nigerians are angry. The times require the government to ‘jaw-jaw’ and not ‘war-war’ with Nigerians. The truth is that you cannot smack a child and at the same time ask the child not to cry. A stitch in time may still save nine.”

Even though the United Nations Department of Safety and Security had expressed worries that the planned protests could be hijacked by groups with ulterior motives and turned into a violent adventure, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar threw his weight behind the mass action, declaring it constitutional.

President Tinubu, however, issued a mass appeal, assuring that his administration was already working to address the grievances of the seething masses. And truly, the President carried out some emergency measures to appease the displeased youths.

 

Less than 48 hours to the planned mass action, Tinubu created centres across the country where Nigerians can purchase a 50kg bag of rice for N40,000.

He also directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to sell crude to the Dangote Refinery and other upcoming refineries in naira.

Although the President had earlier announced that he might stop the importation of import duties on food and essential commodities, he later suspended import duties to cushion the effect of the inflationary trend in Nigeria. However, on Monday, he removed the duties on food importation.

The Federal Government also unveiled the Youth Internship Scheme initiated by the NDDC for 10,000 youths of the Niger Delta region and approved N50,000 monthly stipends for them.

This was just as the Nigerian Communications Commission directed telecommunications operators to immediately restore all blocked phone lines due to the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers to SIM cards.

President Tinubu also on Monday signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law. However, the catalogue of emergency directives failed to deter the protesters.

But despite the moves from the Federal Government, the question on the lips of some observers is whether most of those in the corridors of power in the current administration have the moral standing to caution the masses against an anti-government demonstration, despite being the driving forces that triggered the 2012 #OccupyNigeria protests against the Goodluck Jonathan administration for removing the fuel subsidy.

This was just as some other political watchers felt the protest was ill-timed because it is still early to start crucifying the present administration for the current state of the country, which they largely blamed on the brazen and clueless economic mismanagement exhibited by its predecessor.

Speaking with Sunday According, a constitutional lawyer, Dr Tunji Abayomi, said even though the youths had the right to protest, the demonstration must be done with caution, so as not to violate the conditions that underpin their legal freedom to protest.

“They (the government) have a right to say people should not protest. But a protest is evidence of discomfort. But that doesn’t stop the people from protesting. So, what I am saying is: the government has a right as a matter of self-preservation to ask people not to protest.

“It is like the husband asking the wife not to fight. Even if the husband has done something wrong, it is normal and that’s why he can ask the wife not to fight. Likewise, the government can ask the citizens not to protest. It is within the nexus of self-preservation.

“But if the people have a case, they can protest. However, I think what the government should do is to guide the protest in a way that is not turned into an abuse. This is because freedom to protest is a conditional right. It is not absolute. So, it is important for the youths not to violate the conditions,” Abayomi stated.

He noted, “Every government will obviously be worried because of the energy of the youths and their limited tendencies for reflection, control, and soberness. We all saw what happened in Kenya. But having said that, the solution to Nigeria’s problems is not protest.

“When a protest occurs, especially when it becomes uncontrolled, it worsens the situation of any country. Come to think of it, what will be the essence of the protest? It is that we are unhappy, discontented, and dissatisfied. But these are all well-known facts.

“Even the President has said that he knows the pains of the people. So, what will then be the essence of the protest? Will it be to repeat the obvious? And then, those youths with genuine agitation also need to be careful, lest it is perceived as recklessness. I say this because we currently have a situation where political figures in the opposition are backing the protests.”

However, a public interest lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said the protest was long overdue because the government had been depleting scarce public resources on irrelevant and extravagant expenditures.

“The protest is long overdue. Nigerians are experiencing excruciating economic hardship. At the same time, the government is depleting scarce public resources to fund the extravagant lifestyle of the President and other people in government. The prices of basic commodities have gone up exponentially.

“We have not seen any major efforts towards institutional reforms. Corruption is still rife. Nepotism is also now fully entrenched. So, there are 1,001 reasons Nigerians should protest, but to say that there have to be clearly defined demands before people can protest is just misguided,” Effiong stated.

In a similar vein, another lawyer, Festus Ogun, told Sunday According that the protest was very consequential and symptomatic of the bad governance and insensitivity of the current administration to the people’s plights.

“Protest is a constitutional right that is guaranteed under Sections 39, 40, and 41 of the constitution. You cannot beat a child and expect that the child will not cry. The people of Nigeria have been cheated and oppressed for too long. So, the protest is only a consequence of bad governance and leadership that we experience on a daily basis. It is simply consequential. For every action, there must be consequences,” the lawyer said.

As Abayomi stated, the government will likely not back down on its resolve to see an end to the protest. Amid the rising calls from the government quarters, only time will tell whether the organisers of the protest will bow to the rising pressure anytime soon.

Chukwueze flying in Milan pre-season

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Chukwueze flying in Milan pre-season

Nigeria striker Samuel Chukwueze is sending heads turning with consistent top-draw displays for AC Milan in their build up to the 2024/25 season, According Sports Extra reports.

The club shelled out €20m plus up to a further €8m in add-ons to secure the winger from Villarreal, where he had scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists in 50 competitive games. Great things were expected of the Nigeria international at San Siro, but he barely made a blip in his debut Italian campaign, scoring once and rendering two assists in 12 starts of 24 Serie A appearances.

Along with being slowly settled in and the absolute explosion of Christian Pulisic, playing on the right wing, Chukwueze also had injury problems and missed large chunks of the season on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. He hardly ever played a full 90 minutes in the Milan jersey, either used as a late substitute when his teammates were flagging or pushed into the starting XI during an injury crisis. Just as he started to make an impact with his only goal in March and two assists, another injury struck and ended his term early.

The 27-year-old is proving to be a decent investment for the club, making promising flashes of what he could do and what he has shown so far in their pre-season explain why the club invested that much in him.

The pace that made him famous is finally back now that he’s fully fit; the cut inside from the right flank to shoot or cross with the left foot makes him a little more unpredictable than Pulisic in that role. It also means he could feasibly play as a trequartista in a more central position, or even a false 9.

The U17 World Cup winner provided two assists in a 3-2 win over Manchester City and scored the only goal to beat Real Madrid too. His confidence is sky high, and it shows, as at last he is taking opponents on and beating them.

He is getting a clean slate now and seems ready to hit the ground running, generating more excitement than many of the new signings. The stage is set, and 2024-25 can be truly the campaign for Chukwueze to make his mark in the Milan jersey.

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