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(Nigeria) Police from Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force CID, Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, have charged the Chairman of NEM Insurance company, Chief Adewale Teluwo on charges of conspiracy and wilful destruction of property. The insurance guru was arraigned Tuesday, before Yaba Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos on the alleged offences. The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, while arraigning the defendant before the court presided over by Magistrate O. Y. Adefope, told the court that the defendant committed the offences around Mile 12, Area of Owode-Onirin, Lagos, on November 25, 2021. He told the court that the defendant, and others now at large wilfully destroyed the perimeter fence of the aforementioned property belonging to one Isiaka Abdullahi. The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened sections 411 and and 340 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state 2015, and punishable under the same sections. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the...

*Court of Appeal, Lagos (Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has asked the Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, to declare the purported pardon granted to an Indian businessman, Ashok Israni and three others, by the Lagos State government as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. Addressing a special panel of the appellate court on Thursday, during the hearing of the appeal filed by Israni, and two officials of Keystone Bank, Anayo Nwosu and Olajide Oshodi, EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, submitted that there are plethora of legal authorities that pardon cannot be granted to convicts whose rights of appeal have not been exhausted. Members of the Special Panel are: Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Presiding), Justice Ebiowei Tobi, and Justice B. Gafai. Justice Kudirat Jose of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, had on December 9, 2019, convicted Israni, and two officials of Keystone Bank, Anayo Nwosu and Olajide Oshodi, on an amended 15-count charge b...

*Hudu Yunusa-Ari, suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC (Nigeria) Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, who allegedly announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the gubernatorial election in the state during the recently concluded supplementary elections, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, has been arrested by the police. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said: “The Nigeria Police Force hereby confirms the arrest of Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, who was alleged to have announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the gubernatorial elections during the recently concluded supplementary elections following calls for his arrest and investigation by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the basis of alleged impropriety in the course of supplementary gubernatorial polls in the state. “Ari, who was arrested...

*Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba (Nigeria) The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, has directed the immediate deployment of Commissioners of Police to various state commands by the Police Service Commission, PSC. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, said: “Following the approval of the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, for the posting of Commissioners of Police to various State Commands by the Police Service Commission, PSC, the IGP has ordered the immediate deployment of Commissioners of police to various commands across the country. “The IGP tasked the Senior Police Officers to proceed immediately to their respective duty posts and take charge of the affairs of their offices, and execute the policing agenda of the Force leadership. “The newly posted Commissioners of Police comprise CP’s Mohammed Gumel - Kano State Command; Haruna Garba - FCT Comman...

(Nigeria) The Police Service Commission, PSC, on Wednesday, approved the dismissal of three Assistant Superintendents of Police, ASPs and the reduction in rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents and one Assistant Superintendent. PSC's Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement, said: “The Commission also approved the punishment of severe reprimand to an Assistant Commissioner of Police, a Chief Superintendent of Police, four Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents and 12 Assistant Superintendents. “These were highpoints of the 20th Plenary Meeting of the Commission held today at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission in Jabi, Abuja and presided over by the Commission's Chairman and former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Solomon Arase. “The Commission also approved punishment of reprimand to six Officers, one Superintendent and five Assistant Superintendents. *Dr. Solomon Arase, Chairman, Police Se...

*Force Public Relations Officer,  Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Adejoh Siaka and Ndiwa Kpuebari (Nigeria) The police authorities have demoted an Inspector to Sergeant and another Sergeant reprimanded over the assault of a citizen in Rivers State by an officer. Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Tuesday, said: "Subsequent to complaints and findings on video evidence widely circulated on April 9, 2023, on social media of assault, discreditable conduct, and incivility to members of the public, at Emouha, Rivers State, and a follow-up orderly room trial of the affected policemen by the Force Provost Marshal, one Adejoh Siaka has been reduced in rank from Inspector to Sergeant. "Similarly, one Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari, who was also present at the scene but took no steps to discourage such inappropriate and shameful act was severely reprimanded. "However, one Inspector Friday Obaka, who was later discovered to have been absent fro...

*Mr. Okey Wali, SAN (Nigeria) The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Tuesday, demanded the release of its former President, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, who was kidnapped on Monday in Rivers State. NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, in a statement, said: "It has come to my attention that one of our respected elders and former President of NBA, Mr. Wali, SAN, was reportedly abducted in the early hours of April 17, 2023, after his convoy was attacked on the East–West Road, in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State. "Mr Okey Wali, SAN was the 26th President of the NBA and has served this nation in varying capacities, contributing immensely to the growth of legal practice and in the promotion and entrenchment of the rule of law. "He is a known philanthropist, who has helped in the development of his community in no small measure. "I, therefore, hereby plead with the abductors not to harm Mr. Wali, SAN and make a passionate appeal for his release to his family. *NBA President, Mr. Yakubu ...

*President Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his “leadership position and role as the African Union Anti-Corruption Champion to widely publish your asset declaration form as you conclude your term of office in May 2023 and to leave a legacy of transparency.” SERAP also urged him to “encourage Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and high-ranking officials of the next administration to also promptly publish their assets to date.” According to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], all public officers are to declare their assets immediately after taking office; at the end of every four years; and at the end of his/her term of office. In the open letter dated April 15, 2023, by SERAP deputy director, Kola...

The dismissed police officers, Inspr. Dahiru Shuaibu, Sgt. Abdullahi Badamasi, and Sgt. Isah Danladi. (Nigeria) The Nigerian Police Headquarters, have dismissed three officers for offences of discreditable conduct to wit misuse of firearms, abuse of power, gross indiscipline, and wastage of live ammunition. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarter, in a statement on Thursday, said: “Subsequent to complaints and findings on video evidence widely circulated on April 7, 2023, on social media of high-handedness, unprofessional conduct, and misuse of firearms against some policemen from Special Protection Unit, SPU, Base 1, Kano, and a follow-up orderly room trial of the affected policemen by the Force Provost Marshal, three officers from the SPU Base 1 Kano have been dismissed for the offences of discreditable conduct to wit misuse of firearms, abuse of power, gross indiscipline, and wastage of live ammunition. “The trio, Inspr. Dahiru Shuaibu, Sgt. Abdullah...

IGP Usman Alkali Baba (Nigeria) The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has met with the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Ex-IGP Dr. Solomon Arase, and retired Inspectors-General of Police on Wednesday, at the Police Service Commission Corporate Headquarters, Abuja. Force Headquarters, Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said: The meeting which was at the instance of Dr. Arase, amongst other salient things discussed issues affecting the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force drawing experiences from the retired officers who have at various times piloted the affairs of the Nigeria Police Force, and the Commission. *Chairman, Police Service Commission, Ex-IGP Solomon Arase “The retired IGP’s who graced the meeting include IGP Sunday Ehindero (retd), IGP Mike Mbama Okiro (retd), IGP Ogbonna Onovo (retd), and IGP Suleiman Abba (retd). “The PSC Chairman appreciated the IGP and retired IGPs for honouring his invitation while assuring th...

*Former Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi. (Nigeria)  A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday ordered the interim forfeiture of N725,345,897.77 and Plot J 37A 218 Close, 2nd Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, linked to  former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA,  Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi. Trial judge, Justice Tijjani Ringim made the order sequel to a motion ex parte argued by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, counsel, Bilkisu Buhari. Buhari told the judge that the sum was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, while the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity. The commission also prayed for an order directing the EFCC to publish the interim order in a national newspaper, “for anyone interested in the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before this court to show cause within 14 days why the final o...

*Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable arraigned in court (Nigeria) Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, who was arraigned before the Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ifo, Ogun State, on two separate charges bothering on assault and theft of musical equipment, has been admitted to bail in the sum of N300,000 and N500, 000 in the two charges with two sureties each in like sum. Portable was arraigned before an Ogun State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ifo on Monday on charges bothering on assault and theft of musical equipment. Meanwhile, Portable was remanded at Ilaro prison, pending the perfection of his bail requirements, as the court adjourned till April 26, 2023, for the commencement of trial. Portable was detained at the police headquarters on Friday after ignoring many invites. When he appeared before the court on Monday, Portable pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. Part of that charges read: “That you Badmus Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, and o...

*ECOWAS Court of Justice (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to use his “good offices and leadership position to immediately enforce the judgment by the ECOWAS Court of Justice prohibiting prosecutions of anyone on the grounds of ‘insulting’ or ‘stalking’ public officials online.” SERAP also urged him to “enforce and implement the ECOWAS Court judgment compelling your government to respect, protect and promote freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.” In a letter dated April 1, 2023, by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation expressed “serious concerns about the shrinking civic space in the country as some state governors and government institutions are reportedly using section 24 of the Cybercrime Act and other repressive laws to crackdown on anyone seeking to assert their human rights, and media freedom.” SERAP said, “Many Nigerians and media houses continue to face thre...

*Bayo Onanuga (Nigeria) The International Criminal Court, ICC, in the Hugue, Netherlands, has acknowledged the receipt of a petition by a Nigerian Law Professor, Dr. Gideon Christian against Bayo Onanuga, chief spokesman of Nigeria's President-elect, Bola Tinubu, over alleged inciting ethnic hate. ICC in a letter reference: OTP-CR-109/23, dated March 27, 2023, by Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information and Evidence Unit Office of The Prosecutor, reads: “Dear Sir/Madam, The office of the international criminal court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter. “This communication has been duly entered in the communications register of office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provision of the Rome Statute of the international criminal court. “Please note this acknowledgement letter does not mean an investigation has been opened, nor that an investigation will be opened by the office of the prosecutor. “As soon as a decision i...

*Bayo Onanuga (Nigeria) A Nigerian Law Professor, Dr. Gideon Christian, has petitioned the International Criminal Court, to conduct an investigation into series of ethnically motivated violence resulting in injuries and death during the just concluded presidential and governorship elections in Nigeria and inciting ethnic hate by Bayo Onanuga, chief spokesman of Nigeria's President-elect, Bola Tinubu. In the petition to ICC, brought pursuant to art.15 of the Rome Statute entitled: "Request to Investigate the Election and Post-Election Violence in Nigeria as well as incitement to Ethnic Hate by Mr. Bayo Onanuga," addressed to Mr Khan, the Information and Evidence Unit Office of the Prosecutor, Netherlands, Dr. Christian, cited the European Union Election Observer Mission in Nigeria interim report on March 20, 2023, that noted multiple incidents of "organised violent attacks" which resulted in "many casualties and fatalities." He said that these i...

(Nigeria) Institute for Economics and Peace has admitted its erred in profiling the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world in its Global Terrorism Index. Recall that GTI report published on March 15, 2023, had ranked IPOB among the top 10 deadliest terror groups in the world, claiming that the group was responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022. IPOB, however, protested the ranking, and called for a review of same. The institute in a statement posted on its website on Monday, retracted its earlier report, and now referred IPOB as a pro-Biafra secessionist movement and not a terrorist group. In its statement entitled; “Statement regarding Indigenous People of the Biafra, IPOB and the Global Terrorism Index,” Institute for Economics and Peace, said: “The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria that aims to establish an independent state of Biafra. “IPOB was proscribed as ...

A polling unit attacked at closing the close voting during the just concluded general elections (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to “urgently seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences including bribery against any state governors and their deputies during the just concluded general elections.” SERAP also urged him to “promptly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the general elections, and to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations.” In the letter dated March 25, 2023, by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “By allegedly engaging in electoral violence and other electoral ...

* Federal High Court sitting in  Lagos (Nigeria) A senior investigating officer with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC , Mr . Orji Chukwuma , ha s narrated to a  Federal High Court sitting in  Lagos , on Tuesday, how a former acting Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Haruna Jauro, and two others laundered various sums of funds allegedly belonging to NIMASA. Trial judge in the matter is J ustice Tijjani Ringim.   Jauro alongside Dr. Dauda Bawa and a company, Thlumbau Enterprises Limited, is being prosecuted on a 19-count charge of stealing and money laundering to the tune of N304,118, 500 . At the resumed hearing on Tuesday the prosecution presented its third prosecution witness, PW3, Orji Chukwuma who investigated the alleged crime.   Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Chukwuma, of the Chairman Monitoring Unit, EFCC, Abuja, told the court that he was He...

*Mr Joe Biden,  US President (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , has urged the US President Joe Biden to exercise his powers “pursuant to the Presidential Proclamations 7750 and 8697 and the Immigration and Nationality Act to ban Nigerian officials, politicians and other perpetrators and sponsors of violence during the just concluded elections.” SERAP also urged Mr Joe Biden to “use the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to block or revoke the visas of anyone suspected to be responsible for cases of intimidation, harassment and violence during the elections, and to impose asset freezes and property sanctions on them and their families.” The letter followed reports of cases of election-related intimidation, harassment and violence in several states of the country, including in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Gombe, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Osun, Rivers, and Taraba states, and Abuja. In the letter dated February 25 , 2023 , by SERAP deputy director, ...