News

NANS Begins Nationwide Protest, Mon … Against Student’s Prosecution Over Tweet

Published

3 years ago

December 2, 2022

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a nationwide protest to demand the release of a student of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Aminu Mohammed, who was arrested and sent to prison over a tweet on Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari.
NANS President, Usman Barambu, in a statement, yesterday, noted the protest, which would commence on Monday, would be indefinite until Mohammed regained freedom.
NANS had earlier apologised to the First Lady while also calling for the student’s release.
This not working, NANS said it had exhausted options of consultation and consolidation, and would thereby be confronting.
The statement reads, “Sequel to the exhaustion of every option available to us before confrontation in seeking the freedom of one of us, who was arrested in a questionable manner, tortured, molested, harassed and detained by agents of the government, you are hereby notified of the decision of the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students to proceed on a nationwide protest.
“We have consulted and consolidated and neither yielded desirable results in seeking the freedom of Aminu Adamu Mohammed, student of the Federal University of Dutse, hence, the protest will commence as follow:
“Monday, December 5, 2022, nationwide protest. Please, note that the demonstration shall continue until he is released unconditionally.
“The protest is against the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari”.
Mohammed was reportedly picked up by security operatives who traced him to Jigawa and brought to him Abuja in November.
Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court subsequently remanded Mohammed at the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State for allegedly damaging the reputation of the First Lady.
Adamu’s arrest has generated reactions on social media, with notable Nigerians calling for his release.
Barambu noted that NANS’ protest would be against the First Lady and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.
Meanwhile, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, is expected to testify against Aminu Mohammed, a student of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa, who criticised her on Twitter.
Aisha is among the five witnesses listed by the prosecution to testify against Mohammed in court.
However, the police alleged that the offence, bordering on defamation and cyber stalking, contravened Section 391 of the Penal Code.
The one-count charge against the student marked: CR/89/2022, and dated November 23, reads, “That you Aminu Adamu, male of Anguwar Sarakuna, Bauch, Bauchi State sometime between May – June 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did intentionally open a Twitter handle with the name @aminullahie Catalyst and screenshot the image of Her Excellency,Hajia Aisha Buhari.
“And wrote on it in Hausa language ‘Su mama anchikuditalakawaankoshi’ roughly translated to the English language to mean ‘mama has embezzled monies meant for the poor to satisfaction’, and posted same on your above Twitter handle for the members of the public to read, knowing same to be false and capable of affecting her reputation. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 391 of the Penal Code.”
The defendant is to be remanded in Suleja Prison pending the hearing and determination of his bail application, as disclosed by his lawyer, Kinsley Anga.
Recall that the said student was remanded in prison after being arraigned at the FCT High Court No. 14 in Abuja, last Tuesday for cyber stalking and defamation against the First Lady.
Although Mohammed pleaded not guilty, he was still sent to the SulejaCorrectional Centre without an option of bail.
The 24-year-old who hails from Bauchi State was allegedly arrested on the orders of the First Lady a few days ago, sparking outrage among Nigerians with many calling for his release.
He had tweeted back in June in the Hausa language that the First Lady was feeding fat on the poor people’s money.
The 500-level student was picked up from his school two weeks ago and taken straight to the Presidential Villa where he was allegedly brutalised, beaten, maltreated and humiliated by the police suspected of men belonging to the Department of State Services.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

12 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

13 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

13 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.