Day: 15 October 2020

Kwara Gov., Abdulrazak leads #EndSARS protest in Ilorin

Benjamin Chukwudaalu, Political Reporter

Dr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Governor of Kwara State on Thursday walked along with hundreds of #EndSARS protesters to the police headquarters in Ilorin, the state capital, urging them to remain calm and peaceful while their grievances are being looked into. Acknowledging the grievances of the protesters, AbdulRazaq said he and a few governors and some businessmen have recently held a zoom meeting with some individuals involved in the protest movement following which their five-point demands were forwarded to the President, Muhammadu Buhari. According to Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to…

Read More

Sanwo-Olu names policemen who fired live bullet in Surulere

Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed the identities of police officers suspected to have fired live ammunition at peaceful protesters in Area C Police Command in Surulere, Lagos. Sanwo-Olu gave the names of the erring officers to include Inspector Bagou Michael, Inspector Ekpoudom Etop, Sergeant Nnamdi Majura, and Sergeant Akinyemi Benson. Apart from the police brutality and harassment that occurred during the protest, 55-year-old Ikechukwu Iloamauzor was killed by a stray bullet. The governor disclosed that the four officers have since been arrested in connection with the incidence…

Read More

Abuja gives reasons for banning anti-SARS protests

Jide Ige

The Federal Capital Territory Security Committee has banned #EndSARS protests in Abuja, the nation’s capital, for alleged violation of the COVID-19 protocols. The FCT Administration said it was concerned that despite the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, last Sunday, the demonstrations had continued, causing inconveniences to law-abiding citizens. The resolutions of the meeting were contained in a statement on Wednesday titled,’COVID-19: FCT Security Committee prohibits street demonstrations,’ signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye. The meeting…

Read More

We received N77m to fund EndSARS -NGO reveals

Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

One of the groups propelling the ongoing anti SARS protest, Feminist Coalition, a not-for-profit organisation, says it has received over N77m cash donations to prosecute the ongoing protests. The ongoing nationwide protests are against brutality and extrajudicial killings by men of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force. The group, whose objectives include “fighting injustice through peaceful protests, fundraising, and social media organisation” disclosed this in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Progress Report – October 15th, 2020’. It said the funds were raised “through the generosity of…

Read More

‘I didn’t send thugs after protesters’ -Sanwo-Olu

Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to some unverified reports in the social media alleging that the government-sponsored thugs to disrupt the #EndSARS protest. This is untrue and wicked. Such wild allegations were obviously concocted by enemies of peace and orderliness to whip up sentiments against the government, which has been doing everything possible to resolve the crisis by identifying with our youths in their efforts towards police reforms. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been preaching peace. So has the Deputy Governor, who addressed the protesters last…

Read More

‘Give us SARS’ -Northern Govs

Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

The 19 governors of Nigeria’s Northern states have rejected the total disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, submitting that the police unit has been useful in the fight against insecurity in the region. Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, made this declaration while fielding questions from State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Thursday. According to him, even though President Buhari has already approved the scrapping of FSARS, the northern states do not…

Read More

INEC announces date for 2023 presidential election

Benjamin Chukwudaalu, Political Reporter

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, announced that the 2023 presidential election will hold on February 18, 2023. Yakubu, at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, said Nigeria is 855 days away from the 2023 general elections. He therefore urged the National Assembly to work fast on the exercise, ahead of the polls.

Read More

ASUU meet FG today, may end strike

Jide Ige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, will today (Thursday) meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in a bid to end the over six months strike by the university lecturers. A statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Mr Charles Akpan said Ngige would host a meeting with ASUU in Abuja. ASUU had embarked on an indefinite industrial action following its opposition to the government’s move to enforce the use of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information…

Read More

#EndSARSProtest: Badagry youths protest multiple checkpoints, Police extortion on expressway

Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

Youths in Badagry area of Lagos State on Tuesday staged protest against the multiple checkpoints and extortion of motorists by law enforcement agents on Agbara-Badagry Expressway. The youths, in different groups, were seen at the popular Badagry Roundabout carrying placards with various inscriptions.Some of the inscriptions read: “Badagryians say no to multiple checkpoints. Badagryians say no to Police brutality. Reform Nigeria Police is now. We are not criminals, stop multiple checkpoints. Badagry youths say end SARS now.” Recall that Babatunde Hunpe, the member representing Badagry at the Federal House of…

Read More

‘No plot to impeach Obasa’ -Lagos lawmakers

Jide Ige

Thirty-five members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday denied a reported plot to impeach their Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. They also passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker. The lawmakers, who praised the Speaker’s style of leadership, named a member, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh, as the brain behind the false information and sometimes, outright fake stories about the House and its leadership. The lawmakers passed the vote of confidence after their colleague representing Somolu Constituency 1, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, raised a motion eulogising the Speaker over…

Read More

Ecobank rewards excite Xpress Point agents

Jide Ige

Ecobank Nigeria has rewarded its Agency Banking partners, also known as Xpress Point Agents across the six geo-political zones of the country with mouthwatering gifts for their performances from January to September 2020. The reward is coming ahead of the Ecobank Vanguard Digital financial inclusion summit bringing together stakeholders in the digital financial inclusion space in Nigeria. Announcing the rewards in Lagos, Nike Kolawole, Head, Agency Banking, Ecobank Nigeria said it was expedient to recognize and reward agents across the country for their tenacity, also knowing that they are helping…

Read More

Videos: Pandemonium as #EndSARS, ProSARS protesters clash in Abuja, Lagos

Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

Pandemonium broke out Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday as #EndSARS protesters were attacked by other groups against the campaign. Several persons were injured and vehicles vandalised as the invasion of the new groups led to a clash at the popular Berger Roundabout in Abuja. The situation became chaotic as people scampered for safety and tried to defend themselves as the invading groups attacked the protesters with sticks and machetes, destroying vehicles and anything on their path. The situation held up vehicular traffic and business activity across…

Read More

Buhari’s PenCom nominee has no NYSC certificate

Jide Ige

Hannatu Musa Musawa is a familiar name in political circles in Kano and Katsina States where her father, Alhahji Musa Musawa, bestrode like a political colossus. She is also a political activist in the mold of her father who was a juggernaut of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party led by the late Aminu Kano, and boast of connections in high places.  Thus, it was not surprising that she was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari to the board of the National Pension Commission (PenCom)  as a commissioner to represent North West. But unlike…

Read More

Atiku’s company, Intels sack 600 workers

Benjamin Chukwudaalu, Political Reporter

Intels Nigeria Limited, a company reportedly owned by ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubarkar has incurred the wrath of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria for laying of about 600 of its workforce. The union has therefore issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of Intels to withdraw the sack letters issued to the embattled staff. The affected workers were said to be in its Rivers and Warri operational areas. The MWUN said the company, would face total shut down of its operations nationwide should management refuse to act accordingly. The Secretary-General of…

Read More

Adeboye backs #EndSARS

Jide Ige

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has lend his voice in support of the #EndSARS protests rocking the nation. Adeboye, Nigeria’s most respected cleric tweeted on Wednesday evening saying, “Our daughters will not be able to prophesy and young men will not see visions if we don’t keep them alive. “I support the youths in this peaceful protest as they “speak up” to #EndPoliceBrutality #EndSARS #ENDSWAT.” Adeboye, who is a mentor to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, had earlier in the year embarked on a protest…

Read More