News
SERAP Seeks Injunction To Protect Coalition of Northern Groups
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), yesterday, approached the Federal High Court in Lagos for an injunction backing and protecting the #EndSARS protesters.
In a fresh lawsuit, which has President Muhammadu Buhari; the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Commissioner of Police, Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu; and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; as defendants, SERAP prays for an order protecting the protesters from harassment.
The protesters had come under attacks both by policemen and suspected state-sponsored thugs.
SERAP is urging the court to issue an injunction restraining Buhari and the other respondents sending their agents to “harass, arrest, detain or in any other manner infringing on the fundamental rights of peaceful protesters in the EndSARS/SARSMustEnd /ReformPolice protests or any other peaceful protest in Nigeria.”
The group asked the court to declare that Buhari has no legal right “using members of the Nigeria Police Force through the 1st and 2nd respondents, the military and other paramilitary formations to intimidate, threaten, ‘arrest’, beat, harass, shoot, kill and detain unarmed peaceful protesters in the ‘EndSARS/‘SARSMustEnd’/‘ReformPolice’ .”
It asked the court to declare such clamp down on protesters as a violation of Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights [Ratification & Enforcement] Act Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Meanwhile, the military authorities have threatened to deal with thugs and miscreants disrupting the ongoing peaceful protests by #EndSARS campaigners demanding police reforms in the country.
The Defence Headquarters frowned on the violent attacks on the activists and warned the perpetrators to desist or face sanctions.
Some of the protesters were attacked and injured by thugs in Abuja and Lagos, last Wednesday.
About seven vehicles were also vandalised at the Berger roundabout, Wuse, Abuja.
But the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen John Enenche, in a statement, yesterday, stated that the military would not condone further attacks on the peaceful protesters.
The statement was titled, “Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies assured Nigerians of their safety and stability of the nation, warn against violent protests in the country”.
It stated, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have observed with dismay some violence-related protests across the country, particularly the increasing number of attacks on peaceful protesters by thugs and miscreants.
“This unfolding event against peace-loving Nigerians will not be condoned. Hence, thugs and miscreants are hereby warned to desist from engaging in violent activities against peaceful Nigerians henceforth, or face appropriate measures.”
The Military High Command encouraged citizens to go about their normal activities without fear of intimidation or harassment “as the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies are on ground for their safety.
“In clear terms, any attempt to undermine the democracy of our beloved nation under any cover will not be allowed,” the DHQ warned.
Earlier, while addressing Defence correspondents during the weekly briefing on ongoing security operations, yesterday, Enenche had condemned the attempts by some hoodlums to provoke the protesters.
Responding to a question on the planned nationwide protests against insecurity by the Coalition of Northern Groups, the coordinator said the military was concerned by the spreading civil disobedience.
He stated, “We are not worried but concerned and committed. You will become worried when you have remotely been involved; a lot has happened. You know that this thing (insecurity) has been ongoing for 40 years, as quoted by the authorities in Southern Kaduna. I want to say it is the same thing that happened all over the place.”
He explained that the armed forces were always reviewing its strategy and operations in line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed over 100,000kg of cannabis spread across 51 hectares of farm land in Ekiti State.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi yesterday, in Abuja.
Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday Sept. 3 and Wednesday Sept. 4 stormed three camps inside the Ise-Ekiti forest reserve, in Ise/Orun Local Government Area of the state.
He named the affected areas to include: Aba Saalaja with 23 hectares; Aba Paanu with 12 hectares and Aba Arogunmatidi with 16 hectares, all within Ise-Ekiti forest reserve.
He also said two suspects: were arrested on the Toro-Jos road, Kaduna with 305kg cannabis (Indian hemp) concealed in false compartment of a J5 boxer bus marked YLA 682 XM.
Babafemi said that another suspect was arrested in possession of 18 kilograms of same substance at Makarfi town.
“Two other suspects others: were arrested on the Zaria- Kaduna highway in possession of 1300 tablets of Tramadol, all same day,”he said.
Also, in Jigawa state, a 30-year-old man was nabbed with 32.6kg of cannabis (Indian hemp) at Koran Shehu.
Babafemi said that operatives in Kogi intercepted 77,300 pills of Tramadol, Diazepam and Exol-5 with 1,230 bottles of Codeine in a commercial bus driven by Attai Okolo, 68, along Aloma – Ejule road, Ofu LGA, Kogi.
“Another was nabbed on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway with 42.400kg cannabis (Indian hemp) coming from Lagos enroute Kano.
“NDLEA operatives in Borno arrested a 40-year-old man at Ramat area of Maiduguri with 13,100 pills of Tramadol.
“Also, operatives in Kano nabbed a man with 25.8kg cannabis and 3,000 pills of Diazepam along Kano – Daura road,”he said.
The NDLEA spokesman said that no fewer than 87,790 pills of Tramadol were recovered from Musa Adamu, 30, when he was arrested in Zing, Taraba state.
Babafemi said that a raid on the home of a drug kingpin, Mayowa Abayomi Awe (a.k.a Bishop) in Ilesa, Osun state led to the seizure of 43grams of crack cocaine, 23grams of Methamphetamine, 17.126kg cannabis and a locally made pistol.
The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to forestall economic hardship occasioned by the recent increase in pump price of petrol.
The President of NIM, Dr Christiana Atako, made the call in a statement by the institute’s registrar, Mrs Taiwo Olusesi in Lagos.
Atako said that it was important to mitigate the harsh effects of the latest increase in the price of fuel on both the economy and Nigerians.
She said that the long fuel queues that resurfaced in various cities had attendant consequences on Nigerians whose cost of living was shrinking by the day.
“The Institute supports the current efforts by the Federal Government to kick-start the nation’s weak economy and put it on a good footing.
“However, NIM is an organisation committed to promoting good governance and sound management practices.
“We believe that government should do everything within its power to give the nation’s economic policies a human face,” she said.
The NIM president urged the Federal Government to continue working with the greater interest of Nigerians at heart by taking more proactive measures to impact the welfare of the citizenry.
She called on government to, especially, address fuel scarcity, the hunger in the land, as well as tackle the myriad of economic issues facing the country.
“The Institute concedes that the decision to remove fuel subsidy has come with some pains,.
“It is, however, a necessary step towards the nation’s economic stability as it will help to curb the mismanagement of scarce resources
“It will also reduce corruption in the oil sector, and ensure that the benefits of government spending are felt by all Nigerians.
“Since the removal of subsidy is a difficult decision with significant impact on the masses, it is essential that the Federal Government implements measures to mitigate its effects,” she said.
Atako suggested measures like providing a safety tax net for those who would be most impacted by the subsidy removal, greater government intervention in agricultural produce, public transportation and youth employment programmes.
She also enjoined Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government, and called for more understanding.
She said that the NIM believed that the nation would soon turn the bend and start reaping the benefits of the present sacrifices.
-
Rivers3 days agoOdili Makes Case For Teachers Training College In Rivers
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNavy Nabs Six Oil Thieves, Dismantles Illegal Refining Site
-
News3 days agoFubara Promises To Deliver Standard General Hospital For Obio/Akpor
-
Sports2 days ago
AFCON 2025: S’Eagles Have Quality To Beat Any Team – Eguavoen
-
Business2 days agoNMDPRA Issues Licence To Construct Floating LNG
-
Featured12 hours agoLP crisis: I’m Disappointed, Not Surprised, Obi Replies Abure
-
Rivers3 days agoOnne Port, Used As Destination For Dangerous Illicit Cargo – Comptroller General
-
Opinion2 days agoRespecting The Traditional Institution