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Dele Farotimi: LP Reps Caucus Demands Fair Hearing, Judicial Neutrality

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By Gloria Ikibah
The Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives has raised concerns about the need for judicial neutrality, fairness, and impartiality in the defamation case involving human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi and Chief Afe Babalola, SAN.

The caucus voiced its apprehension over actions it perceives as threats to Nigeria’s democratic values and civil governance. Specifically, it referenced the arrest and detention of Barrister Farotimi, accused of defamation by Babalola.

Leader of the Labour Party Caucus, Rep. Afam Ogene, in a statement described the lawyer’s arrest as a troubling incident. He highlighted the dramatic manner in which Farotimi was apprehended from his Lagos office, alongside reports of staff intimidation, as signs of growing hostility toward democratic principles and dissenting opinions in the country.

The caucus emphasised that such actions undermine public trust in democratic institutions and called for strict adherence to the rule of law in handling the case.

He stated: “The judiciary remains the last bastion of hope for all citizens in a democratic society, as such, it is imperative that the judiciary upholds the principles of impartiality and neutrality at all times, regardless of the social status or connections of any party involved in a dispute before it.
“The Labour Party Caucus is committed to upholding the values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and in this regard we call on the authorities involved in this controversial case to ensure that Barrister Farotimi’s rights and privileges are not denied.
“We also demand that the embattled lawyer be given fair hearing, and not made to suffer from any manipulated processes, as was alleged by him in a statement before his forceful arrest and subsequent imprisonment.”
Barrister Farotimi had previously alleged in a press conference that a court process was initiated against him without his knowledge. He claimed that a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, ostensibly for failing to appear in court.
Farotimi maintained that these actions were part of a deliberate and fraudulent scheme to manipulate the judicial process, ultimately leading to his arrest and imprisonment.
The Nigeria Bar Association NBA, had condemned the development, adding that “These actions constitute a troubling breach of the rule of law and the sanctity of the legal profession.”

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IGP Egbetokun orders his men to resume issuance of tinted glass permits

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The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force has directed his men to resume the issuance of tinted glass permits across the country.

This development was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

According to the Force spokesperson, the move comes in response to rising concerns and complaints from the public over the harassment of vehicle owners by law enforcement agents for using factory-fitted tinted windows.

“The Nigeria Police Force, under the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reactivated the issuance of Tinted Glass Permits (TGP) nationwide through a secure and user-friendly digital platform.

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“This initiative comes in response to widespread public complaints about the harassment of motorists over the use of tinted windows and reflects the need for a clear, transparent, and accountable process for regularising factory-fitted tinted glass on vehicles”, the statement partly read.

Highlighting the prevalence of modern vehicles designed with tinted windows for comfort and aesthetics, the police emphasised the importance of having a formal system to regulate usage.

“With modern automobiles increasingly manufactured with tinted windows, it has become essential to provide a standardised system that accommodates legitimate use while ensuring public safety.

“Tinted vehicles have often been exploited for criminal purposes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, ‘one-chance’ scams, and other forms of banditry”, Adejobi explained.

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According to the statement, the abuse of tinted windows by criminals creates operational challenges for law enforcement and compromises national security.

In addition, he explained that law enforcement will begin active implementation after the grace period, and the police warn that officers who misuse the enforcement process will be sanctioned.

“Enforcement will commence at the end of this period. Officers found engaging in unprofessional conduct, such as extortion or harassment, in the course of enforcement will be decisively dealt with in accordance with extant disciplinary procedures”, he said.

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Spokesperson Warns Nigerians Against Fake Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Recruitment Scam

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised alarm over a fake recruitment scam circulatingonline, falsely claiming to be from the ministry and offering jobs in Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the spokesperson of the Ministry, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the public should disregard any such messages, stressing that the ministry does not recruit directly.
“We want to put on record that the ministry don’t recruit officers directly, not at all,” Ebienfa said. “Recruitment of foreign service officers is done by the Federal Civil Service Commission and not by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
According to him, the scam started with online advertisements falsely signed by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in the last 24 hours, scammers have moved further by sending fake employment letters to unsuspecting Nigerians.
“One of the fake messages reads: ‘We are pleased to inform you that your application has been considered for diplomatic services at the Embassy of Nigeria in Juba, South Sudan to take effect 12 May 2025.
“It even directs candidates to pay N165,800 for a diplomatic passport”, he said.
Ebienfa described the offer as entirely fake. “This did not emanate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,.
“There is no way you will be recruited into the Nigerian Diplomatic Service and without going through the process of training, which is the Foreign Service Academy”, he said
He clarified that all recruits into the Foreign Service go through a clear and formal process: recruitment by the Federal Civil Service Commission, training at the Foreign Service Academy, then eventual deployment abroad.
“The first deployment is one year of attachment. Subsequent postings last three years,” he said.
He therefore warned that no Nigerian should believe any job offer claiming to be directly from the ministry, or pay for a diplomatic passport.
“Diplomatic passports are free. “Even official passports for civil servants are free. So nobody should fall victim”, he said.
Ebienfa noted that the scammers are using the names of top officials of the ministry, including his own. “They are sending out emails with my name as the signatory,” he said.
In response to questions from journalists about efforts to stop the scammers, Ebienfa said the ministry would involve security agencies. “What the ministry intends to do is to write officially to the relevant security agencies to track the persons behind this website and the emails,” he said. “If someone is paying money, definitely there will be an account that will be provided for the payment.”
He warned that if the scam continues unchecked, it could damage Nigeria’s image abroad. “Tomorrow you will see unsuspecting Nigerians arriving in different countries with fake documents. When real officers show up, there could be confusion.”
He promised that more disclaimers would be issued via the ministry’s social media platforms, and that action would be taken to protect both Nigerians and the integrity of the foreign service.
“This is not just about fake news. It is about protecting Nigerians from losing their hard-earned money and protecting the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, the spokesperson stated.
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CBN announces revised documentation requirements for PAPSS transactions

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a revised documentation requirement for transactions conducted through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) in Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the apex bank’s acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali

The CBN said the new initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to foster seamless intra-African trade, financial inclusion, and operational efficiency for Nigerians engaging in cross-border payments within Africa.

Launched by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat in January 2022, PAPSS serves as a centralized payment and settlement platform that enables instant, secure, and efficient cross-border transactions throughout Africa.

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By facilitating payments in local currencies, PAPSS minimizes reliance on third-party currencies, reduces transaction costs, and supports the rapid expansion of trade under the AfCFTA.

In a recent circular referenced TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/006 issued on April 28, 2025, CBN outlined the key changes to the documentation requirements associated with PAPSS transactions.

The key changes it added take effect immediately and include simplified documentation for low-value transactions, which allows customers to now use basic KYC and AML documents provided to their authorized dealer banks for low-value transactions of up to $2,000 and $5,000 equivalent in naira for individuals and corporate bodies, respectively.

“For transactions above the thresholds, all documentation as stipulated in the CBN foreign exchange manual and related circulars remains mandatory,” the bank said.

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Also, the CBN added that applicants are responsible for ensuring all regulatory documents are available to facilitate the clearance of goods, as required by relevant government agencies.

“Authorized dealer banks may now source foreign exchange for PAPSS settlements through the Nigerian foreign exchange market, without recourse to the CBN.

“All export proceeds repatriated via PAPSS shall be certified by the relevant processing banks.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria urges all banks to adopt PAPSS and commence originating transactions in line with this new policy.

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“In addition, CBN encourages exporters, importers, and individuals to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and leverage PAPSS for cross-border transactions within Africa,” the statement said.

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