Wednesday 17 October 2024 NNPC still sole Dangote petrol buyer – Marketers Naira weakens to 1,705/$ at parallel market Naira weakens to 1,705/$ at parallel market NEMA deploys response team to Kogi as flood displaces 517 Power grid collapse inevitable – FG NCDC records 1,025 Lassa fever cases, 174 deaths Agbakoba writes N’Assembly, says EFCC unlawful organisation Nine months after, Ibadan explosion victims groan in despair APC, PDP trade words over Makinde’s call for Ondo REC redeployment NASU threatens to resume suspended strike Edo poll: I’ll retrieve my mandate, Ighodalo says 140 Victims Of Jigawa Tanker Explosion Buried, 90 In Hospitals There’s No Leadership Vacuum Despite Tinubu, Shettima’s Absence – Presidency Falanas Ask Bobrisky To Apologise, Retract Defamatory Statements Within 12 Hours Present 2025 Budget Proposal Now, Reps Tell Tinubu Exiting Multinationals Opportunistic, Nigerian Firms Have Risk Appetite — Soludo Keyamo To Foreign Airlines: Warming Frozen Foods For Nigerians No Longer Acceptable Lokpobiri directs NMDPRA to probe Jigawa tanker explosion Lagos will pay N85,000 as minimum wage, says Sanwo-Olu Wale Edun: Incentives in oil and gas sector attracted $3bn investments Yoruba groups divided over Akintoye, Igboho’s call for breakup FG didn’t apologise to Libya after maltreating NFF officials, players —Minister FG Rejects Shell’s $1.3 Billion Oil Asset Sale To Renaissance Group – Report Akpabio’s impeachment rumour unacceptable, unspeakable — Senate spokesperson Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, has drawn the attention of the National Assembly to constitutional issues related to law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and factors inhibiting the Government’s objective of abolishing corruption as stated in Section 13 of the Constitution. In two separate letters to the Senate and House of Representatives, dated October 14, 2024, the renowned lawyer said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was an unlawful organisation, which he believed was “unconstitutionally established”. “I very strongly believe the EFCC is unconstitutionally established. The powers under which it was established go beyond the powers of the National Assembly. The EFCC is an unlawful organization,” Agbakoba, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said The letters were addressed separately to the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu. The Deputy Speaker doubles as the Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, while Senator Jibrin is Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review. Agbakoba noted that he was delighted to note that many states had finally taken it upon themselves to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC, saying, “This will put to rest the question relating to the validity of the EFCC.” The letter to the Deputy Senate President, titled, “Urgent Legislative Attention on Constitutional Reforms Relating to Law Enforcement Agencies and Anti-Corruption Efforts”, reads: “I commend you for the remarkable leadership you have demonstrated as Chairman, Senate Constitution Review Committee, particularly in advancing the government’s reform agenda through a robust constitutional framework. Your efforts to strengthen the legal infrastructure underpinning the nation’s development programs are indeed commendable. “I write to draw attention to certain constitutional issues on matters related to law enforcement agencies. As you are obviously aware, the fundamental objective of the government is to abolish corruption. But from my observation, there is no harmony amongst law enforcement agencies on corruption. They all appear to be working at cross purposes. “This has been confirmed by the Supreme Court in so many cases. The Supreme Court has consistently sanctioned the EFCC for its conduct and questioned if the EFCC can in fact validly do what it does. I will go further to say that I very strongly believe the EFCC is unconstitutionally established. The powers under which it was established go beyond the powers of the National Assembly. The EFCC is an unlawful organization. “I am very delighted to note that many states have finally taken it upon themselves to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC. This will put to rest the question relating to the validity of the EFCC. Whilst we await the decision of the Supreme Court as the final court on the matter, I respectfully request that the Senate convene a public hearing to consider these constitutional issues. “Such a hearing would provide an invaluable platform for stakeholders to discuss the reforms needed to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks for law enforcement and anti-corruption, which will meet the stated and laudable objective of the government to abolish corruption as stated in Section 13 of the Constitution. “I trust that, under your capable leadership, the Senate Constitution Review Committee will give these matters urgent attention in the interest of our nation’s development. “Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. I look forward to your response.”

A mass burial has been conducted for 140 victims of the petrol tanker explosion that took place at Majiya town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State on Wednesday. About 90 other victims of the ugly incident are currently in various hospitals in the state receiving treatment. The explosion occurred around midnight on Tuesday when the driver of the tanker, travelling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University, Majiya. The tanker, which had departed Kano and was heading to Nguru Town in Yobe State, exploded after the driver lost control. The disaster, according to the police, was triggered by residents who had rushed to scoop spilt petrol after the tanker overturned. A mass burial has been conducted for 140 victims of the petrol tanker explosion that took place at Majiya town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State on Wednesday. About 90 other victims of the ugly incident are currently in various hospitals in the state receiving treatment. The explosion occurred around midnight on Tuesday when the driver of the tanker, travelling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University, Majiya. The tanker, which had departed Kano and was heading to Nguru Town in Yobe State, exploded after the driver lost control. The disaster, according to the police, was triggered by residents who had rushed to scoop spilt petrol after the tanker overturned. The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot,” Police Public Relations Officer of Jigawa State Command, DSP Lawan Adam, explained in a statement. “The incident left another 50 people severely injured, who were then rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.” DSP Adam described the scene as a “horrific tragedy,” emphasising the need for the public to understand the risks associated with scooping fuel from accident scenes.

Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, and his son, Folarin, popularly known as Falz, have demanded a public apology and retraction of defamatory statements made by the popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, in audio recordings circulating online. In one of the audios shared by controversial media critic Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed that he had spoken with Falz, requesting his assistance in persuading his father (Falana) to help secure a presidential pardon, which allegedly cost N10 million. The crossdresser also alleged that he asked Falz for N3 million to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre. In another audio shared by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed to have paid N5 million upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in an attempt to secure a Federal Government pardon over charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. However, in a letter dated 14 October 2024, issued by Falana’s legal representatives, Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo E. Olawanle, and seen by our correspondent on Wednesday, Bobrisky was accused of making false and defamatory statements about Falana and his son’s involvement in the alleged bribery and pardon. The legal team described Bobrisky’s claims as entirely unfounded and damaging to Falana’s reputation. They demanded a full retraction and apology, to be published on all platforms where the statements were shared. The letter read, “We are Counsel to Mr. Femi Falana SAN and Mr. Folarin Falana aka Falz (hereinafter referred to as ‘our clients’), on whose behalf we write this letter regarding your slanderous statements against them. “We have confirmed that you took advantage of your recent imprisonment to extort money from a group of artists and other members of the public. You will recall that on 4 May 2024, you called Mr. Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, and requested N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre. “Although Falz refused your request, you falsely claimed in a video that he told you his father, our client, had agreed to write a letter of pardon for you. You also stated that our client had spoken with you and that N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) was required to bribe officials to process your pardon.” The letter continued, “In another video, you claimed to have paid N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to secure a Federal Government pardon over charges filed against you by the EFCC. You further alleged that the Senior Advocate initially requested N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) for his legal services but, due to your frozen account, you could not raise the full amount.” Falana’s legal team clarified that no such conversation had ever taken place and that Bobrisky’s allegations were aimed at extorting money from the public while tarnishing Falana’s professional reputation. “In fact, you have published a list of individuals who believed your fabricated story and contributed millions of naira, supposedly to pay our client to write a letter of pardon and bribe public officers on your behalf. “Your decision to involve our client in your criminal activities was purely a figment of your imagination. “Contrary to your baseless claims, you never instructed our client to write a letter of pardon for you,” the letter further stated. Additionally, the legal team emphasised that Bobrisky had never spoken with Falana nor instructed him to write a letter of pardon. The claim of a N5 million payment was also dismissed as groundless. “It is clear that you made these defamatory statements recklessly, knowing full well that you did not call our client to request a letter of pardon. Our client has NEVER spoken to you regarding your pardon or any other matter,” the lawyers asserted. “Given that our client has secured pardons for over 300 Nigerians convicted by military and civilian courts in Nigeria, Libya, Thailand, and The Gambia on a pro bono basis, your defamatory statements have severely damaged his reputation, both locally and internationally. “We, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of your defamatory and derogatory statements, along with a prominently aired or published apology on all platforms where your false statements have been shared. “If we do not receive your formal retraction and apology within 12 (twelve) hours of your receipt of this letter, we will proceed with our client’s instructions to pursue legal remedies, including seeking monetary damages, for your malicious defamatory statements. “We hope you will urgently address the issues raised herein in your own best interest,” the legal team concluded. The PUNCH reports that the Lagos State High Court has ordered VeryDarkMan to remove defamatory comments and videos concerning Falana and his son, Folarin, from his social media platforms. Justice M.O. Dawodu issued the ruling in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024 on Monday. He ruled that the publications made by VeryDarkMan on his social media platforms on 24 September 2024, linking Bobrisky to Falz and his father, were defamatory and harmful to their public image.

A recent report has revealed that TikTok removed over 2.1 million videos from its platform in Nigeria during the second quarter of 2024. This move is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and positive user experience, as outlined in its Q2 2024 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report. The report highlights TikTok’s significant actions to moderate content in Nigeria, showing that these videos were removed for violating its Community Guidelines. According to the report, “This number accounts for less than 1 percent of the total videos uploaded in Nigeria during this period, reflecting TikTok’s proactive content moderation and commitment to ensuring a safe digital space for its Nigerian user base.” Key statistics from the report reveal that “99.1 percent of these videos were taken down proactively, before any user reports, and 90.7 percent of the violative content was removed within 24 hours.” The report further noted that “Globally, TikTok has continued to invest in advanced technologies to enhance content understanding and risk assessment.” In June 2024 alone, TikTok removed over 178 million videos, with 144 million of those taken down automatically. The company explained that these advancements have significantly reduced the amount of content requiring human moderation, limiting exposure to harmful material for both users and moderators. “TikTok’s global proactive detection rate now stands at 98.2 percent,” the report stated, emphasizing the platform’s increased efficiency in addressing harmful content before it reaches users.