News
August 1st: Protest Organisers unveil venues, forward list to IGP
Organizers of the planned August 1 to 10, 2024 hardship protest in Nigeria have unveiled details of the protest upon the request of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The details, including venues and locations, where the intended protests would take place were contained in a letter by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, attorney to the organizers, addressed to the IGP.
Meanwhile, the Adegboruwa asked the IGP to provide the contact details of the Police officers designated to cover the said protest.
“We act as solicitors to the TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT, and refer to our letter on the above subject matter dated July 26, 2024, and your response thereto dated July 29, 2024, Ref. CJ:2400/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.1/10, which we have passed to our Client with instructions to respond thereto as follows.
“Our Client acknowledges the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police towards complying with extant legislations granting citizens the right to hold public meetings, public rallies and public processions and the lawful discharge of the obligations placed upon the police to provide adequate coverage and protection at the venues.
“We shall be glad to have the contact details of the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, and the Commissioners of Police designated to cover the said public meetings, public rallies and public processions, to ensure a peaceful and crisis-free outing.
“We shall update you with further details over time, hoping that the above information suffices for planning and strategy. We are delighted to attend the meeting with the Inspector-General of Police as requested.
However, to achieve enlarged participation, we request that the said meeting be held virtually, to give room for all stakeholders to attend.
Specifically, we will be led in the said meeting by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, the NBA, other lawyers and civil society organizations. We await the Zoom link for the said virtual meeting”, the letter stated.
Recall that IGP Egbetokun had agreed to provide security for the planned protesters in a letter addressed to Adegboruwa on Monday.
The Police had also invited Adegboruwa for a meeting on Tuesday.
This development comes as last-minute planning to schedule hardship protests amid the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
News
Simon Ekpa: FG’s attempt to extradite self acclimated freedom fighter may hit brickwall
The Federal Government’s attempt to extradite pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa, from Finland to face terrorism charges in Nigeria may hit brickwall.
According to The Africa Report, this is due to Finnish legal restrictions.
The self-declared prime minister of the Biafra Government In Exile (BRIGE) was arrested alongside four others by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over terrorism related activities.
The Finnish police said they suspect that Mr Ekpa “has contributed to violence and crimes against civilians in South-eastern Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s defence chief, General Christopher Musa while reacting to the arrest, said the country will proceed to push for Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria.
While Finland has confirmed Ekpa’s arrest, the country made it clear that, according to Finnish law, the country will not extradite its nationals outside the European Union or Nordic countries.
This further complicates Nigeria’s request since there is no extradition treaty between the two countries.
Even though Finland and Nigeria are in contact, the legal framework prohibits the transfer of citizens for trial in non-EU countries.
According to reports, everything has to be done according to Finnish legislation, which has very strong protections for freedom of speech
“The issue of an extradition treaty is very fundamental. If there is no extradition treaty between the two countries, there can be no legal basis or justification for extraditing Ekpa,” a Lagos-based lawyer Festus Ogun said.
Vince Onyekwelu, former British Police Officer and National Security Risk Strategist said the chances of Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria are also slim.
Onyekwelu said while appearing on Arise TV:
“Professionally speaking, the Finnish Authorities have done their due diligence and have every right to arrest Simon Ekpa. It is left for the court to look into the request by the Chief of Defence Staff to extradite Ekpa to Nigeria. However, with the absence of an extradition treaty between Nigeria and Finland, Ekpa’s extradition will seem unlikely.”
News
Minimum wage: Yobe Gov approves N70k for workers
Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has approved the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to civil servants in the state effective December 2024.
This is contained in a memo signed by the governor, following recommendations by the committee on Minimum wage constituted by the state government.
The committee had recommended for a reconciliation of local government finances to ensure a hitch free transition process of the local government councils from the existing salary structure to the new minimum wage.
The reconciliation process which is nearing completion is expected to be concluded soon for approval, and quick enrolment of the local government employees into the new minimum wage salary structure.
The committee had recommended for a reconciliation of local government finances to ensure a hitch free transition process of the local government councils from the existing salary structure to the new minimum wage.
The reconciliation process which is nearing completion is expected to be concluded soon for approval, and quick enrolment of the local government employees into the new minimum wage salary structure.
According to a statement signed by the spokesman to the governor, Mamman Mohammed, the Government expects civil servants in the state to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best to ensure effective and efficient service delivery
News
Retired 85-year-old Col bags P.hd
A retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, Bolaji Titilola Onafowokan, aged 85, is among the first set of doctoral degree students produced by the Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, disclosed this at the weekend, while briefing the press on activities to mark the 16th convocation ceremony of the university.
He said the first set of PhD holders to be produced by the institution totalled 67.
“I am happy to inform you that the university will, at this 16th convocation ceremony, graduate its first set of doctoral degree holders.
“They are 67 in number and the list included a retired Army Colonel, Bolaji Titilola Onafowokan, who is 85 years old. And he is getting his PhD in Educational Technology.
“I salute his courage and doggedness to pursue this dream of his. Even younger ones shy away from this kind of task.
27 First Class
“Also, out of the 4,140 graduating students, 27 have first class. We are also graduating 4 M.Phil, 275 Master’s degree and our best graduating student is Adedeji A. Adedamola with CGPA of 4.91.
“We are also giving honorary degrees to four distinguished Nigerians namely: Dr Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi, Prince Oluyemisi Adedoyin Shyllon, Otunba Jaiyeola Wasiu and Engineer Jubril Dotun Sanusi,” he stated.
Prof. Banjo, who is winding down his tenure as the VC of the first university of education in Nigeria, added that some projects would be inaugurated by the Visitor, Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“We are happy to say that within the last one year, we have done some projects to add to what we have on ground. We have expanded the Medical Centre and the fund used was from our internally generated revenue.
“We are also weaning ourselves of epileptic power supply as we have our own Independent Power Project. It is 800 kva which can be scaled up.
“Even as it is, it is enough for our needs. It is less expensive than what we pay monthly as electricity bills to the power firm serving this area,” he said.
The VC also disclosed that the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, would deliver the convocation lecture titled, “From classroom to cloud: Leveraging digital literacy for national development.”
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