…now endorsed yreason charges for protesters who spoke against hardship

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for allowing the Nigerian police to charge peaceful protesters, including minors, with treason and terrorism.

The charges, filed in response to protests against the severe economic hardship attributed to the government’s neoliberal policies dictated by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Falana, who himself has a long history of advocating for civil rights, highlighted the irony of President Tinubu’s approach, reminding Nigerians that Tinubu himself once fled the country under the regime of General Sani Abacha to escape a death sentence imposed by a brutal dictatorship.

“Today, under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is witnessing similar suppression, with peaceful protesters—including minors—facing charges of treason for opposing economic hardships that have been exacerbated by neoliberal economic policies endorsed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.”

In August 2024, protests erupted across Nigeria in response to rising living costs and other economic grievances.

The Senior Advocate said despite the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, police arrested 130 protesters, including 29 minors, and charged them with offenses such as treason and incitement to mutiny.

These charges, Falana argued, are groundless under Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022, which explicitly excludes protests, demonstrations, and work stoppages from being classified as terrorist acts.

However, an ex parte court order allowed the suspects to be detained for 60 days for further investigation.

Falana condemned the strategy as an attempt by the government to intimidate citizens and stifle dissent.

“The Federal Government set out to use the case of the 130 protesters to discourage Nigerian people from protesting against the harsh living conditions,” he stated.

He added that the global condemnation of the charges eventually pressured the government into abandoning the prosecution, yet the incident has raised questions about Nigeria’s commitment to upholding democratic values.

Falana urged the Nigerian government to redirect its focus toward protecting peaceful demonstrators rather than prosecuting them.

“Instead of exposing the country to avoidable shame by charging protesters with a crime punishable by death,” he argued, “the police should comply with the law by providing security for peaceful assemblies.”

He added that respecting citizens’ rights to assemble is essential to fostering a democratic society.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) are set to lift refined petroleum products directly from the Dangote Refinery.

This is coming after the union secured an agreement with Dangote Group on Monday according to IPMAN National President, Abubakar Garima.

The President announced this to newsmen after a meeting of the National Working Committee of the association, assuring that the partnership would ensure steady, and affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.

We’re pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets,” IPMAN President was quoted by Channels TV.

Recall that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) had earlier accused of Dangote of selling more expensive fuel than the imported ones.

Reacting, in a statement signed by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer on Sunday, Dangote Refinery said, “We had lately refrained from engaging in media fights, but we are constrained to respond to the recent misinformation being circulated.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, widely known as MC Oluomo, has officially assumed office as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the union’s national headquarters in Abuja.

Akinsanya’s appointment as president was secured through a consensus during the Quadrennial Delegate Conference held at the NURTW Zonal Secretariat in Osogbo, Osun State.

The election saw participation from Southwest states, including Ogun, Lagos, Ekiti, and Ondo, after the presidency was zoned to the region.

Accompanied by a large, enthusiastic crowd, Akinsanya was ceremoniously welcomed into the national secretariat, where he was introduced to members of the National Administrative Council (NAC) and the Central Working Committee (CWC). Shortly thereafter, the official swearing-in ceremony took place, conducted by the union’s Legal Officer, Mercy Ibeh.

During the ceremony, Akinsanya took the oath of office as national president, while Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede and Akeem Adeosun were sworn in as Vice President (Southwest) and Trustee, respectively.

In his inaugural speech, Akinsanya expressed deep gratitude to union members and supporters, pledging to honor the NURTW constitution and lead the union to new heights with the guidance of Allah. He emphasized his commitment to promoting calm and unity among members, prioritizing their welfare as part of his leadership goals.