Senators from the South-East have pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to order the release of the detained leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the lawmakers claimed that unless Kanu is released, the social and economic activities in the South-East region will continue to be stagnant. The senators held a closed-door meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, where their letter to President Tinubu on the release of Kanu, was delivered for onward passage to the the presidency. Addressing journalists immediately after the meeting, Abaribe who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, lamented that the economy and social life in the region had suffered enough due to the continued incarceration of the Biafra nation agitator. Abaribe noted with grave concern, that the peaceful demand of the detained IPOB leader had been hijacked by hoodlums and hardened criminals, leading to wanton killings of innocent people, including security operatives. The former Abia state Deputy Governor told journalists, that he had already met with Kanu at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja on Monday, and that Kanu had agreed to abide by any conditional release. Senator Abaribe expressed optimism that once Kanu is released, the tension and acrimonies engulfing the region since 2021 when he was clamped into DSS custody, would become an event of the past. The senators therefore pleaded with the AGF to convey their message to President Tinubu and for the AGF, to use his position to terminate all charges brought against the IPOB leader by the federal government. Besides the Senators, Abaribe said that virtually all political leaders, religious leaders and stakeholders, have unanimously agreed that Kanu be released for peace to return to the region. Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 by the Federal Government and brought to the country for trial on terrorism charges. Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, declined to admit him to bail on the ground that he jumped the earlier one in which Senator Abaribe was his surety. Kanu has since been in the custody of the DSS on the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

  The house of representatives committee on foreign affairs has invited Ibrahim Lamuwa, permanent secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs. Lamuwa has been accused of sexual harassment. The committee is chaired by Oluwole Oke, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade federal constituency of Osun state. Oke told TheCable that Lamuwa will appear before the committee on Thursday.   The permanent secretary has been accused of “persistent sexual harassment” by Simisola Ajayi, a married female aide of Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs. In a petition through Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ajayi had informed Tuggar of Lamuwa’s alleged sexual advances. In the petition, Ajayi said Lamuwa approached her on October 7, 2023, during the first retreat to review President Bola Tinubu’s 4D policy, to ask why she did not pass the night at the hotel after the event. According to the petition, the permanent secretary informed Ajayi that he would want her to come to his room after the event. She was said to have declined the invitation, insisting that she was a nursing mother and needed to go home to care for her baby. On May 27, Tuggar informed Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of service of the federation, of the allegations against Lamuwa. The minister said he felt compelled to write Yemi-Esan due to the “gravity of the matter”. In June, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) invited Ajayi for interrogation on the matter.

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has raised the alarm that some corrupt elements being investigated are planning a massive protest against the commission. The commission noted that a group had in the last few days recruited young Nigerians including students to demonstrate against the commission. The anti-graft agency in a statement on Wednesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated that the campaign against the commission was being portrayed as opposition to the commission’s efforts, particularly regarding the enforcement of cybercrime laws. Oyewale said, “EFCC wishes to alert the general public on the plan by a shadowy group to instigate a “protest” against the Commission. In the last couple of days, the group has been actively campaigning on social media, recruiting impressionable young Nigerians, including students to take up “arms” against the EFCC.   “This insidious campaign is being promoted as resistance to the operational activities of the Commission especially in respect of the enforcement of the laws dealing with cybercrimes.” Oyewale said the commission was not against protests, adding that evidence at their disposal showed that corrupt elements under investigation were behind the protest. He said, “The commission, while not averse to protests by citizens, is alarmed by emerging evidence that suggests a grand design by corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution by the Commission to exploit the so-called protest to orchestrate a national uprising that may threaten the peace and security of our dear nation.” Related News Oyewale warned that the breakdown of law and order around the EFCC’s offices would not be condoned. He said, “As a responsible law enforcement organisation, the commission will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order anywhere in the country, especially around its office locations across Nigeria. “EFCC, working in concert with sister security agencies, is therefore taking necessary measures to deal with possible threats to the peace and security of Nigeria.” Oyewale, therefore, warned parents, guardians and heads of tertiary institutions to ensure their children are not recruited to participate in the protest. He said, “The commission, however, appeals to parents, guardians and heads of tertiary institutions to take responsibility for ensuring that their wards are not recruited to be used as cannon fodder in a proxy war against the commission by vested corrupt interests. “The war being waged by the commission against corruption and cybercrime is to protect the future of the youth of this country. “That future is imperiled if Nigeria degenerates further in the global reckoning as a den of fraudsters.”

  The Senate, on Wednesday, raised an alarm over the influx of substandard Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel into the Nigerian market. In a matter of urgent national importance, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong observed that on June 16, 2024, a report revealed that 12 diesel cargoes conveying a total of 660 kilotons of diesel, were exported by refineries to offshore Lome, Togo for further distribution to West African markets, mainly Nigeria. According to him, the quality of the said diesel was below the Nigerian standard in terms of flash and Sulphur levels. He further disclosed that; even though the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recently revised the standards of diesel importation into Nigeria in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, it has been incapable of enforcing compliance with the standards. The Senate then set up an ad-hoc committee, to launch an investigation into the continued importation of hazardous petroleum products, and dumping of substandard diesel into Nigeria. Again Ekpeyong avered that the NMDPRA has continued to issue import licences for diesel and jet, despite sufficient local production capacity. As the lawmakers expressed anger over what they described as sabotage and a clear failure of the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act, the Upper Chamber asserted that those found culpable in the illicit act must face the wrath of the law. Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has corroborated views by other lawmakers, that the issues raised within the PIA should be reviewed, not as an act of witch-hunting anyone, but to set the records straight. The Ad-hoc committee to investigate the allegation, chaired by the Senate leader, has been given three weeks to report back to the house.

  The International Press Centre (IPC), based in Lagos, Nigeria, is convening a Media Dialogue and Stakeholders’ Interface to address mechanisms for guaranteeing credible conduct of Edo State Governorship Election in September this year. The dialogue and interface are part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the media is Fair, Accurate, Ethical, and Inclusive in its coverage of elections while other stakeholders also perform their role creditably. This initiative, slated for July 4 and 5, 2024, in Benin, Edo State, aligns with the goal of Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGNII) project funded by the European Union. The principal aim is to ensure that all relevant stakeholders fulfill their responsibilities diligently, so that the Edo governorship election can be devoid of violence, disinformation and misinformation with the people being able to freely make informed choices. The first day’s sessions will, among others, focus on identifying priority issues for Edo citizens in the elections, early warning indicators of possible violence, key points for civic/voter education and how the media can report fairly, inclusively and accurately. The discussions will also be framed within the EUOM recommendations aimed at enhancing media performance during elections, guaranteeing the integrity of information, and aligning with regulatory frameworks such as the Electoral Act, Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage. On the second day, meetings will be held with key institutional stakeholders including the INEC Resident Commissioner for Edo State, the Edo State Police Command, the Civil Defence Corps, etc. The meetings will emphasise shared responsibilities and the cultivation of cooperative partnerships to protect journalists, promote peaceful elections, and enhance public understanding of voting and counting procedures. Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC, in a statement said: “We expect that this intervention will promote meaningful dialogues and strengthen commitment towards hitch-free Edo Governorship election. The event is expected to attract about 50 stakeholders among who shall be male and female political reporters and other journalists from the Print, Broadcast and Online media who will be on duty during the governorship election.

  The International Press Centre (IPC), based in Lagos, Nigeria, is convening a Media Dialogue and Stakeholders’ Interface to address mechanisms for guaranteeing credible conduct of Edo State Governorship Election in September this year. The dialogue and interface are part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the media is Fair, Accurate, Ethical, and Inclusive in its coverage of elections while other stakeholders also perform their role creditably. This initiative, slated for July 4 and 5, 2024, in Benin, Edo State, aligns with the goal of Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGNII) project funded by the European Union. The principal aim is to ensure that all relevant stakeholders fulfill their responsibilities diligently, so that the Edo governorship election can be devoid of violence, disinformation and misinformation with the people being able to freely make informed choices. The first day’s sessions will, among others, focus on identifying priority issues for Edo citizens in the elections, early warning indicators of possible violence, key points for civic/voter education and how the media can report fairly, inclusively and accurately. The discussions will also be framed within the EUOM recommendations aimed at enhancing media performance during elections, guaranteeing the integrity of information, and aligning with regulatory frameworks such as the Electoral Act, Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage. On the second day, meetings will be held with key institutional stakeholders including the INEC Resident Commissioner for Edo State, the Edo State Police Command, the Civil Defence Corps, etc. The meetings will emphasise shared responsibilities and the cultivation of cooperative partnerships to protect journalists, promote peaceful elections, and enhance public understanding of voting and counting procedures. Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC, in a statement said: “We expect that this intervention will promote meaningful dialogues and strengthen commitment towards hitch-free Edo Governorship election. The event is expected to attract about 50 stakeholders among who shall be male and female political reporters and other journalists from the Print, Broadcast and Online media who will be on duty during the governorship election.

  The Rivers state police command has arrested a man in the Omoku council headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state. The man identified as Felix Nwaobokata is the immediate past commander of the local vigilante group, popularly known as ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC). According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Koko, said Nwaobokata had two human skulls and bones in his possession at the time of arrest. Nwaobokata was arrested alongside three others following accusations of abducting a member of the Hausa community in Omoku. Koko said the arrest was part of a clampdown on the excesses of OSPAC in Omoku and other parts of the state. SEE FULL PRESS BRIEFING BELOW: OSPAC VIGILANTE LEADER ARRESTED WITH HUMAN REMAINS IN RIVERS STATE The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a clampdown on the excesses of Vigilante Groups operating within the State. This follows numerous complaints about the operations of the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC) in different parts of the State, predominantly in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (ONELGA), as well as clashes with other Security Agencies by this Vigilante Group. On May 9th, 2024, Alhaji Usman Seleh, the Chairman of the Hausa Indigenous Group in ONELGA, reported that OSPAC had abducted a member of his group. He proceeded to report the matter to the Police. Consequently, the Police invited the ONELGA OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, who refused to honour several invitations. Instead, the OSPAC outfit coordinated an attack on the Police Division in Omoku but the attack was thwarted as the Police repelled them. Following this development, Tactical Units of the Command stormed the ONELGA OSPAC Camp at Omoku and arrested Cheta Benjamin, Joshua Ekwosa, Innocent Ahiakwu, and four others. The ONELGA OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, was subsequently arrested in his hideout in Omoku on June 17th, 2023, where two human skulls and human bones were found in his possession. The arrested OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, is also a principal suspect in the murder of two brothers, Collins Ugorji (32) and Newman Ugorji (39), of the Idu Community in ONELGA. The brothers were killed on May 1st, 2024, by the OSPAC on the allegation that they were kidnappers. Their motorcycles were confiscated, and their bodies were taken to the OSPAC Secretariat in Omoku and received by Felix Nwaobakata after residents lamented their criminal actions. The bodies of the brothers were not seen, and the investigation is ongoing. In another related incident, on May 31st, 2024, the Youths of Egbeda Community in Emuoha LGA staged a peaceful protest to Lubrik Construction Company (LCC) at Egbeda, and after being addressed by the Police, they dispersed but were ambushed by a group of OSPAC members led by the Egbeda OSPAC Commander, Friday Ogbuji, who shot and killed the Youth Leader, Innocent Didia. The Rivers State Police Command has made further arrests and will continue to investigate these cases and other related ones, which will then be charged to a Court of competent Jurisdiction. The Rivers State Commissioner of Police Cp Olatunji Disu has advised that any resident who has complaints of assault, extortion, or illegal detention should make a report at the nearest police station. The Rivers State Command is committed to carrying out its duty of protecting lives and property. It will not tolerate any act of illegality, excessive use of force, torture, fraudulent conversion of properties, and other varying forms of criminality by the OSPAC or any other vigilante outfit. While recognising the relevance and importance of these vigilante groups in the Community Policing System, with regards to information gathering and visibility, among others, the Command will keep engaging and synergizing with these groups on what is expected of them and their limitations. The rights of all as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended must be respected. The Rivers State Command wants to reassure the public and all key stakeholders that it will continue to work within the ambit of the law and issue a stern warning to any individual or group who chooses to operate outside the scope of the law.   SP GRACE IRINGE KOKO (ANIPR) POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND July 3, 2024.

  Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, has ordered the expansion of the operations of the national cybercrime centre to existing force criminal investigations department (FCID) annex offices. The select FCID annex offices are in Lagos, Kaduna, Gombe, and Enugu states. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) national cybercrime centre is the police unit established to combat cybercrimes in the country. The cybercrime centre was only domiciled in Abuja. Persons who allegedly violated the Cybercrimes Act are often taken to Abuja for questioning. In a statement on Monday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the directive means that the centre will now have operational offices at the FCID annex in the aforementioned states. Adejobi said the move will “help in professionally coordinating and monitoring smooth investigations of cyber-related infractions reported to the police”. “Following the recent upsurge in the creation and circulation of misinformative and dis-informative materials and other cyber-related crimes, capable of causing a breakdown of law and order and attempting to discredit the country, using the various social media platforms, it has become expedient to take proactive and strategic steps to nip this trend in the bud in order to prevent damage to the peaceful coexistence of well-meaning citizens and residents of our great country,” the statement reads. “To this end, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered the expansion of the activities of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) to the existing Force Criminal Investigations Department Annex offices to facilitate the efficient handling of matters related to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.” Some analysts have criticised the police for allegedly hiding under the Cybercrimes Act to clamp down on journalists and activists.