News
Rep Salam decries harassment of council staff in Osun, Says police role disgraceful
…call for urgent intervention of IGP
By Gloria Ikibah
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Bamidele Salam, has condemned the harassment, unlawful detention and public humiliation of a local government employee in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, describing the alleged involvement of the Nigeria Police Force as disgraceful and unconstitutional.
The lawmaker, who represents Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency of OsunState, reacted to a viral video and photographs circulating online that showed the treatment of the council worker.
He said the incident reflected a troubling abuse of power and a serious breakdown of the rule of law at the local government level.
Rep. Salam accused certain political actors of using security personnel to intimidate and oppress council staff, warning that such actions undermine democratic governance and the proper administration of local councils in Osun State.
Following his own inquiries into the incident, the federal lawmaker called for urgent intervention by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
He urged the immediate withdrawal of police officers from what he described as unlawful and improper duties within local government secretariats across the state, insisting that security agencies must act strictly within the bounds of the Constitution.
Salam said: “I just watched a viral video and many photographs of Mr. Taiwo Adebayo, a local government worker in Egbedore Local Government of Osun State being humiliated by some politicians in the presence of the Divisional police officer of the local government, Mrs. Tawakalitu Ogunniyi and some of her personnel.
“I have made findings on the facts of the matter and confirmed that Mr Adebayo, an Admin staff of the Local Government was on lawful duty upon a directives by the NULGE for resumption of work after an 11 month strike
“Mr Adebayo was in possession of files relating to the retirement process of some local government staff who would soon be exiting service and needed to process their papers for payment of necessary benefits.
“Mr Adebayo acted with the instructions of his superior and was not in any way on an illegal assignment
“The politician who was seen in the video supervising the false detention interrogation and humiliation of the local government staff, is Mr Issa Akinwale, a man who had been sacked from the office of the Chairman of the local government by a judgement of the Federal High Court and the court of Appeal but who has like his other colleagues being occupying the council secretariat with active connivance of the police force.
“The dehumanising treatment of citizen Adebayo by the politician in the presence of law enforcement agents supervised by the Divisional Police officer in Egbedore Local Government of Osun State is despicable, condemnable and outrightly unconstitutional.
“I call for the immediate release of the staff as well the offering of due apologies to him by the Nigeria police force.
“I also call for an immediate cessation of the ongoing illegal, unlawful capture of local government administration in Osun state by politicians from the All Progressive Congress (APC) who are being backed in the usurpation of power and contempt of court by the Nigeria Police Force.
“I call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun to uphold the rule of law by withdrawing his men from their current illegal duties in the local government secretariats of Osun State,” the lawmaker added.
Salam cautioned that the persistent involvement of the police in partisan politics at the local government level represents a grave danger to democratic governance, the authority of the courts and the fundamental rights of citizens.
He emphasised that security agencies are duty-bound to act impartially and to respect and enforce court rulings, rather than enabling actions that undermine them.
The lawmaker recalled that both the Federal High Court in Osogbo and the Court of Appeal in Akure had, in separate judgements, nullified the elections of council chairmen voted into office in October 2022, after finding that the polls breached clear provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He further noted that the Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the election of new council chairmen following polls conducted on 22 February 2025, adding that the enforcement of these judgements has been obstructed by the Nigeria Police Force.
News
Gov. Oborevwori, Prof. Osunbor, Sen. Dafinone, others to grace TheNewsGuru Editor’s book launch
Abuja, Nigeria – Organisers of the forthcoming public presentation of “Journalism NeXt: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Journalism” have announced a distinguished lineup of eminent personalities expected to grace the book launch.
The book, authored by Editor of TheNewsGuru (TNG), Ediri Oyibo, is scheduled for official unveiling on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Utako, Abuja at 2:00 pm.
Leading the list of dignitaries is the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, who will attend as Special Guest of Honour, while former Governor of Edo State and two-term Senator, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, will serve as Chairman of the Occasion.
The book will be reviewed by Dr. Lemmy Ughegbe, Founder and Executive Director of the Make A Difference Initiative (MADI).
The event will also feature the presentation of research findings by the author on the state of journalism in Nigeria, with a focus on challenges faced by journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Other dignitaries expected at the event include Senator Ede Dafinone, Delta Central, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, Delta South; Senator Ned Nwoko, Delta North; Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Member representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, and Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, Publisher of TheNewsGuru (TNG).
Others are Dr. Dili Ezughah, Executive Secretary and CEO, Nigerian Press Council (NPC); Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Comr. Alhassan Yahya Abdul, National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.
“Journalism NeXt: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Journalism” explores the transformation of journalism in the digital era, addressing issues such as media ethics, innovation, sustainability, and the evolving role of journalists in a rapidly changing information ecosystem.
Organisers say the event is expected to attract journalists, media entrepreneurs, academics, policymakers, students, and members of the public, providing a platform for robust engagement and networking.
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Saturday received two honours at the Silver Jubilee Awards of Independent Newspapers, in what is described as a recognition of his administration’s performance, particularly in urban development.
The awards—Outstanding Independent Governor and Best Independent Governor in Urban Renewal (2025)—were presented at a ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, as part of activities marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
The awards were determined through a combination of public voting and rigorous assessment by a jury and the organisation’s board, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers, Steve Omanufeme, said.
He congratulated the recipients and disclosed that further activities to mark the silver jubilee would continue later in the year.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Monday Onyeme, described the awards as a reflection of the administration’s impact since assuming office in 2023.
Speaking with journalists after the event, Onyeme said, “It is very evident to all Nigerians, especially Deltans, that our governor has significantly changed the narrative since assuming office in 2023.
“Today, he stands out as one of the best governors in the area of urban renewal. The impact is visible and undeniable.”
He pointed to ongoing infrastructure development across the state, noting that Delta, as one of Nigeria’s most urbanised states, has witnessed rapid transformation within a short period.
According to him, projects such as flyovers in Ughelli, Warri, Effurun, and Enerhen Junction have improved traffic flow while enhancing the functionality of major urban centres.
Onyeme also disclosed that the administration had delivered about 300 kilometres of roads in the past year, describing it as a major step towards addressing infrastructure deficits.
“When organisations carry out independent assessments and recognise this administration, it does not come as a surprise. The results speak for themselves,” he said.
He added that the recognition would serve as motivation for the government to sustain its development efforts.
“We have not rested, and we will not rest. We were elected to serve the people of Delta State, and we remain committed to that promise. The more responsibility we are given, the more we will deliver,” he said.
The deputy governor further noted that Oborevwori remained focused on leaving a lasting legacy, driven by what he described as a strong commitment to service.
“His desire is to ensure that before he leaves office after his second tenure, the difference will be clear and undeniable. He aims to set a standard that future administrations must strive to meet or surpass,” he added.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Bola Tinubu to direct the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to withdraw its recent directive to broadcasters, describing it as unlawful and repressive.
SERAP, in a letter dated April 18 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the directive “represents a dangerous attempt to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic expression”.
It urged Tinubu to ensure that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and the NBC “immediately withdraw the unlawful “formal notice “which threatens sanctions against broadcast stations and presenters on vague and unjustified grounds”.
SERAP also called on the government to immediately abstain from imposing prior censorship on broadcast stations and Nigerian journalists and allow them to freely carry out their constitutional responsibilities.
The organisation argued that key provisions cited by the NBC were inconsistent with constitutional guarantees of free expression.
“The Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law protect both the absolute right to hold opinions and the qualified right to express ideas of all kinds. Journalistic opinion is protected expression,” SERAP said.
It further criticised restrictions on presenters’ conduct, noting that, “a blanket prohibition on the expression of ‘personal opinions by anchors and presenters’ amounts to an impermissible restriction”.
According to SERAP, the use of vague standards such as “professionalism” opens the door to abuse.
“The NBC’s reliance on an undefined and subjective standard of ‘professionalism’ introduces vagueness and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement,” it said.
The group warned that the threat of sanctions could have a chilling effect on the media, discouraging critical journalism and public debate.
“The imposition of punitive measures based on vague and broadly defined infractions creates a chilling effect on broadcasters… and undermines democratic discourse,” the letter stated.
SERAP also raised concerns about the timing of the directive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NBC’s Formal Notice undermines Nigerians’ democratic rights to receive diverse information, hear competing political viewpoints, and engage in open debate,” it added.
The organisation gave the federal government 48 hours to act, warning that it would pursue legal action if its demands were not met.
The NBC had issued a formal notice on April 17, 2026, citing a rise in unprofessional conduct and warning that it would enforce strict compliance with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, including sanctions for violations.
Gov. Oborevwori, Prof. Osunbor, Sen. Dafinone, others to grace TheNewsGuru Editor’s book launch
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