THE Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has debunked reports that some of its officers are planning to protest against unpaid salaries.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, via his Twitter handle, described the reports as fake news and presumptions, adding that police officers could not stage protests or embark on strike actions.
“Police Force is not a labour union or group where its personnel meet and deliberate on protest or strike. Its not possible. We know and are aware of some ‘don’ts’ in the NPF being a regimental organisation,” he noted.
Urging bloggers and other organisations to avoid reporting false information concerning the Police, Adejobi expressed optimism that the welfare of officers and me of the NPF would be improved soon.
“We appreciate the improvements in our welfare and conditions of service under this present administration. It’s unprecedented, and I am sure more goodies will come for police personnel as soon as possible,” the FPRO stated.
On Saturday, it was reported that some senior police officers were planning a mega protest in Lagos over six months’ unpaid salaries.
According to the reports, those who were being owed include Senior Inspectors, Assistant Superintendents of Police, Deputy Superintendents of Police, Superintendents of Police, and Chief Superintendents of Police. It was reported that the officers have begun making plans for the protests via WhatsApp groups.
According to the reports, the protest was scheduled to be held at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters on Monday, January 16.
The reports also alleged that the Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba had issued warnings to Squadron Commanders against the protests.
The ICIR learnt that a similar incident occurred along the Badagry expressway in November led to the death of one police officer and two other persons.
However, the Lagos State Government has not be able to find a lasting solution to the menace of the toll collectors despite appeals by transport operators.
The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, while confirming the incident in a statement said “two male adults were involved as one was rescued alive with injuries (and taken) to the hospital, and the other victim recovered was suspected dead”.
She added that the remains of the tanker and the towing van had been evacuated.
OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized opioids pills and bottles worth over N5 billion after busting a Tramadol cartel in Lagos.
The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement released by Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, January 15.
The statement further disclosed that anti-narcotics officers of the Agency also uncovered and dismantled a clandestine skuchies laboratory in a remote part of Sagamu, Ogun State.
The NDLEA added that several pieces of equipment and various quantities of illicit substances used to mass produce the dangerous new psychoactive substances were recovered at the venue.
According to the statement, NDLEA operatives, on January 10, intercepted an imported consignment of Loud, a potent variant of cannabis, weighing 4.878.72 kilograms along Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“After a near-fatal encounter with some suspected fake security agents escorting the drugs, the NDLEA operatives succeeded in recovering the consignment with a white truck marked BDG 548 XX conveying it.
“This was followed by the seizure of 121,630 pills of pharmaceutical opioids and some quantity of Molly from a dealer, Charles Okeke, on Wednesday 11th January at Idumota area of Lagos Island.
“Another effort by the Agency to bring the drug cartels to their kneels paid off on Friday 13th Jan when operatives tracked and located a major warehouse for pharmaceutical opioids at 17 Sir Ben Onyeka street, off Ago palace way in Amuwo Odofin area of the state while the owner of the store, Aloysius Okeke was arrested,” the statement said.
Owner of the store at Amuwo Odofin, Aloysius Okeke Photo credit: NDLEA
Illicit drugs recovered from the warehouse include over three million pills of tramadol; 3,490 bottles of codeine and 915,000 capsules of pregabalin 300mg.
According to the NDLEA, the development came on the heels of the arrest of a suspect, Olarenwaju Lawal Wahab, who distributed for the cartel.
“Recovered from his white Mercedes distribution bus include 14,690 bottles of codeine-based syrup; 402, 500 tablets of Tramadol 250mg; 50,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg and 210,000 capsules of pregabalin 300mg.”
In neighbouring Ogun State, NDLEA operatives, in the early hours of Saturday, January 14, also discovered and dismantled a clandestine laboratory on the outskirts of Sagamu from where skuchies, a highly potent psychoactive substance made with a blend of Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Exol-5 and industrial codeine, was being produced and packaged in large quantities and distributed in jerry cans and bottles.
The NDLEA said all the equipment for the production, including power generators, industrial gas cylinders, drums and kegs, as well as various quantities of illicit drugs such as 214kgs cannabis; 1,440 capsules of tramadol; 480 tablets of swinol; 1,440 tablets of Rohypnol and 114 litres of industrial codeine, among others, were recovered from the building before it sealed off the premises.
Consignment of drugs seized by FCT command of NDLEA.
The statement added that, in Abuja, operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the NDLEA, on January 12, recovered 350.7kgs of skunk and 794 bottles of codeine hidden under rocks during a raid on the Tora Bora Hills.
THE chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described the appointment of Ijeoma Akunyili, daughter of the late Professor Dora Akunyili, as the Chief Medical Officer of a hospital in the United States hospital as “well-deserved.”
Akunyili, an emergency medicine physician in Waterbury, Connecticut, was appointed as the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJ Barnabas Health facility in the United States of America.
She is the first African-American medical professional to serve in the role.
A congratulatory statement signed by NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Dabiri Erewa’s behalf stated the appointment was “not surprising”, knowing the kind of training she received from her late mother, who was a disciplinarian to the core.
“A hearty congratulations to Dr Ijeoma Dora Akunyili. We wish her the very best in her well-deserved historic appointment,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She also encouraged other Nigerian youths in the diaspora to be inspired by this achievement and continue to positively project the image of the country.
RWJ Barnabas Health said it was proud to add Akunyili to its executive clinical leadership team, and that her experience managing multi-specialty physician groups in integrated health care systems would help support the Jersey City Medical Center in providing comprehensive healthcare throughout the community.
“Dr. Akunyili has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and as our Chief Medical Officer, we look forward to creating a world-class experience for every patient at Jersey City Medical Center.
“I am confident that Hudson County will benefit in a great way from her leadership, and that her presence will have tremendous impact,” President and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Center Michael, Prilutsky said.
Reacting to her appointment, Akunyili said she was grateful for the opportunity and looked forward to serving the residents of Hudson County in providing safe, innovative, efficient, and equitable care.
“It is a true privilege to lead the clinical effort at Jersey City Medical Center and to create sustainable health outcomes for our community,” she said.
The new CMO received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and has been in practice for almost two decades.
Her areas of specialty include diagnosing and treating patients with life-threatening conditions like heart attack, drug overdose, shock, or massive bleeding.
In her most recent role, Dr. Akunyili served as the Regional Medical Director for TeamHealth, Northeast Group, where she had strategic, operational, and clinical oversight of nearly 20 emergency departments, critical care, and hospitalist service lines in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
She led an unprecedented four-fold expansion of service lines with a specific focus on medical services and access to care for underserved populations.
FEMI Ogunrombi, Papa Ajasco of the popular television comedy series, ‘Papa Ajasco’, has been reported dead.
Ogunrombi, a former music instructor with the National Troupe of Nigeria, died late on Saturday, January 14, 2023.
Announcing his death, a theatre practitioner, Husseini Shaibu, wrote in a tweet, “I have just been reliably informed that the ethnomusicologist, former Music Instructor with @NATIONALTROUPE and one time stand-in for the ‘Papa Ajasco’ character on the popular Wale Adenuga Production Comic Series ‘Papa Ajasco’ Mr. Femi Ogunrombi is DEAD!“
The cause of the veteran Nollywood actor is yet to be publicly ascertained.
Ogunrombi was arguably one of the most famous Nigerian comic actors. He portrayed the popular comedian Papa Ajasco on television as a stand-in for Abiodun Ayoyinka in 2006 after the latter pulled out of the show.
The Papa Ajasco series, which centres on the Ajasco family and their interactions with others, is a Nigerian family television sitcom created by Wale Adenuga in 1996.
Ogunrombi played the lead character as the bald-headed promiscuous husband who cares less of his wife, Mama Ajasco, and his mischievous son, Bobo Ajaccio.
He also left the role in December 2008.
Ogunrombi, who was also a producer, worked as the director of Nigerian national music for about 10 years.
He was the Director of Studies at the Pencil Film and Television Centre in Lagos.
An indigene of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Ogunrombi was born in Ife, Osun State, and would later move to Lagos in the 1970s with his parents.
He studied Nursing in 1975 and practised at the General Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, for a short period.
After taking interest in music and the arts, Ogunrombi went back to school in the 1980s to study Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University.
At the OAU, he founded and conducted a choral group called The Ayoro Voices. This group was the cultural image of the university between 1980 and 1983.
In 1994, he joined the National Troupe of Nigeria, under the Ministry of Information and Culture, as Music Instructor. Despite rising to the position of director of music at the ministry, he left the government to pursue his own music business.
He had worked as a musicologist for more than 30 years.
The late Papa Ajasco was a recipient of many local and international awards, most notably in 1995 when he was awarded a gold plaque and a Diploma in Creative Composition in North Korea for performing a song in that language.
Ogunrombi is said to be married and blessed with, at least three, children. However, details of his age and number of children are not yet verified.
Ogunrombi’s death sparks misinformation
Confirming the death, the Author and Director of Papa Ajasco and Company Wale Adenuga, said the news of Ogunrombi’s death came as a shock to him.
Adenuga commiserated with the late Papa Ajasco in a telephone conversation with a radio station.
Meanwhile, the news of his death sparked misinformation as many mistook him for Abiodun Ayoyinka, the first cast of the show.
Ayoyinka was the first cast in the Papa Ajasco TV series, before the late Ogunrombi replaced him in 2006.
The ICIR gathered that several pictures and videos of Ayoyinka with the caption ‘Rest in Peace’ have been flying on social media since the news of Ogunrombi’s demise, the second Papa Ajasco.
Editor’s Note: This report was updated to reflect Adenuga’s reaction and the misinformation surrounding the death. The update starts from the subhead ‘Ogunrombi’s death sparks misinformation’
ANAMBRA State governor Chukwuma Soludo has appealed to the Federal Government to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in order to resolve security challenges bedeviling the South-East.
Soludo made the appeal during the flag-off of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) campaign in Awka, on Saturday, January 14.
Addressing supporters at the rally, the governor said he is ready to stand as surety for the unconditional and immediate release of Kanu.
Soludo, who promised to provide Kanu whenever he is needed by the authorities, stressed that the IPOB leader cannot be in prison custody while efforts are being made to address insecurity in the entire South-East.
According to him, Kanu is relevant in discussions towards addressing insecurity in the region.
“We need him (Kanu) around the discussion table; we need him to discuss about the future of the South-East. If the Federal Government cannot release him unconditionally, I now offer myself to ask the Federal Government to release him to me.
“I will provide him anytime he is needed. I will house him here in Awka. We need him released to end insecurity in South-East. We need him to have true conversation about Nigeria. We believe in Nigeria and we are Nigerians,” Soludo said.
Continuing, the governor added: “We some time ago set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to find out the root cause of insecurity in the South-East and they have almost concluded their assignment.
“We have applied the kinetic and non-kinetic to fighting insecurity in the South-East but the non-kinetic approach cannot be complete without the Federal Government releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“This issue of insecurity cannot be well addressed without bringing to the table the key players in this matter.
“If we cannot release him based on the court process, I hereby offer myself as the surety for his release and whenever you want him, I will hand him over to you.”
THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has rewarded outstanding staff members for their efforts towards the progress of the organisation.
The awards presentation was held at the two-day annual retreat of the organisation held at Bolton White Hotel on Thursday and Friday.
The winners were awarded cash prizes and plaques for their outstanding performances in the past year.
Presenting the awards, the Executive Director of The ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan, commended all the staff members for their immense efforts.
Aiyetan noted that the awards were meant to encourage staff members that had demonstrated diligence, resilience and commitment, as well as those who had produced excellent stories during the year.
The editor, Victoria Bamas, noted that selection of the awardees was a rigorous exercise as all the members of the staff performed excellently.
Bamas commended all members of staff for their efforts towards the progress of the organization and urged them to put in more efforts this year.
Blessing Otoibhi, a social media manager and Allahde Odeh, an office assistant at The ICIR jointly won the overall Staff of the Year awards.
Both staff members were considered winners based on their punctuality, commitment and diligence to work.
A senior investigative reporter, Marcus Fatunmole, who heads the Health and Solution Journalism desk clinched the ’Reporter of the Year’ award.
Fatunmole, who holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication, has over 10 years experience working in the print, online and broadcast media.
Shehu Olayinka, who heads the social media unit, emerged the first runner-up for the ‘Reporter of the Year’ award.
Olayinka, who is also a fact-checker and data journalist, has over four years experience in journalism with a track record of overseeing every aspect of news publishing, from research, news collection/sourcing, editing and distribution.
Others that were commended are Lama Queen Godoz of the video unit, and Nurudeen Akewushola of FactCheckHub.
Otoibhi thanked the organisation for finding her worthy of the award.
She said, “I am incredibly honoured to receive such an award. It humbles me so much to see that all the work I do does not go unrecognized. It simply takes classic hard work and dedication, and I know too well you have what it takes.
“It has not been all swift and easy. I have experienced challenges that tempted me to give up, but I never looked back.
“Through all the challenges I encountered, I only grew stronger. Today, I can see they have only shaped a professional out of me who is focused on the goal without turning away.”
She thanked her team members for their support and promised to keep doing her best for the organisation.
Olayinka also commended the management and noted that the recognition would spur him to put in more effort.
THE presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu has explained how he will address Nigeria’s economic challenges if elected President.
The former Lagos State governor also said removal of petrol subsidy is long overdue, and assured that he will reinvest subsidy funds on critical infrastructure.
Already, the Federal Government has made provision of N3.6 trillion for subsidy in the first half of 2023, and announced plans to discontinue the program after June.
Speaking while unfolding his economic plans to the organised private sector, under the aegis of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) on Friday, January 13, in Lagos, Tinubu said removal of subsidy is necessary in order to curb imported inflation, and to ensure better macro-economic stability by accelerating inclusive growth and job creation across the country.
The two-term former governor of Lagos State reemphasised the importance of the private sector and his administration’s readiness to partner with them.
He, however, noted that before economic recovery could be achieved, the nation must be secured.
“First, to achieve the economy we seek, we must resolve the pressing security issues. No nation can flourish with terrorists and kidnappers in their midst.”
Tinubu also emphasised that the private sector must be the prime driver of economic progress, but noted that the government must establish the framework within which the private sector must operate.
“If that framework is sound, the private sector will flourish but if the framework is frail or incomplete, then the private sector will struggle,” he said.
To achieve economic development, Tinubu listed some of the principles that would guide his administration’s plans and policies in tackling inflation and driving monetary policy.
He stressed that petrol subsidy must be removed immediately as it had outlived its shelf life as a public good.
According to him, his administration will not subsidise neighbouring countries’ fuel consumption nor allow a select few to reap windfall profits and hoard products.
“The subsidy money will not be ‘saved’ because that means elimination from the economy.
“Instead, we will redirect the funds into public infrastructure, transportation, affordable housing, education, health, and strengthen the social safety net for the poorest of the poor, thus averting increased security challenges.”
He also said that fiscal policy will be the main driver while monetary policy is weaker and a less effective instrument.
According to the APC presidential candidate, “bad monetary policy is destructive but even good monetary policy cannot carry the load the fiscal arm can”.
“Thus, we must steadily remove ourselves from the fiction of tying our budgets to dollar denominated oil revenues.
“This is effectively pegging our budget to a dollar standard. It is as outdated as the fuel subsidy itself. It is also restrictive and ties the economy to slow growth,” he said.
Commenting on budgeting, he stated that it would be based on the projected spending levels needed to push real annual growth rate above 10 per cent, while reducing the unemployment rate.
This is so that the economy can be doubled in seven years.
He added that to cater for the economic needs of the over 200 million Nigerians, his administration would expand the manufacturing base to provide jobs, and also create affordable goods and products for the population.
“For our industries to thrive, they need inputs, many of which are agriculture based.
“We will promote vibrant commodity exchanges that will guarantee minimal pricing for produce.”
He also stressed the importance of adopting technology and expertise to accelerate growth in yields.
“We will implement the “Infrastructure Master Plan” by adopting proven financing structures till we deliver an acceptable stock of hard infrastructure through seaports and airports; road, rail and water transportation linkages that can support our desired economic growth.
“Fixing the perennial problem of energy supply is a top priority.,” he said
To improve the enabling environment, Tinubu added that stable power supply in the country is of utmost importance.
This, he said, would be done by further decentralising transmission, and delivering cost reflective tariffs to attract more private investments in the sector.
The former Lagos state governor said: “Restrictions were placed on import and foreign exchange to promote industrialisation.
“It has instead increased smuggling, reduced revenues, impoverished consumers, and raised production costs for firms.”
To solve this, he said his administration would improve transparency, moving toward a unified exchange rate.
According to him, by relaxing stifling trade and capital control policies, domestic and foreign investors will be encouraged to invest more in the economy.
“Thus, unification of the Naira exchange, and the transparency it creates, will be a top priority of this Administration when elected,” Tinubu added.
On unemployment, Tinubu promised to focus on the creative sector, noting that it has an opportunity to provide millions of jobs annually.
He said, “Taking the creative sector as one example of a sector that already engages millions of our youth, the sector has significant untapped potential for generating quality jobs and foreign exchange earnings for our country.
“When elected, our administration will create a legal environment that can attract much needed private investment into the sector, eliminate widespread piracy and copyrights issues, as well as support the development of quality hard infrastructure needs.
“We will work to ensure all borrowing is geared toward productive economic activity, focusing on internal debt discipline”.
He said he would hit the ground running by selecting a team of technocrats who would help him run the country as he did when he was governor, stating that building a good team is important.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NESG, Niyi Yusuf, said the dialogue was to give effect to common and shared ideas on the economy between the group and critical stakeholders.
He said NESG was set up to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into an open, globally competitive economy.
AT least ten persons died in an auto crash along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday, January 14.
This was disclosed to journalists by Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State, Ahmed Umar.
Umar said the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, involved a Mack truck and a Toyota Hiace bus.
”A total of 19 people were involved in the crash which comprised 13 male adults and six female adults. Two male adults sustained injuries while seven male adults, two female adults and one female child died in the accident,” he said.
Umar blamed the accident on road obstruction by the trailer driver. He also faulted what he described as excessive speed by the driver of the Hiace bus, who was said to have lost control and ran into the truck.
Wounded passengers were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogerse for treatment, while the deceased have been deposited at a morgue in Ipara.
On December 25, 2022, three persons died while six others sustained injuries in an accident along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
While over speeding is often cited as the reason for most accidents on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the frequency of auto-crashes on the route has remained a source of concern.
In 2021, Ogun State ranked fourth on number of deaths from road accidents among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The ICIRreported that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway accounts for a large proportion of motor accidents in Nigeria.
A STUDENT of Federal University Dutse (FUD), Aminu Adamu Muhammed, who was in the custody of security operatives and later released over a tweet tagged as defamatory against the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari has continued to generate debate.
Aisha has been Nigeria’s first lady since 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration assumed office.
Adamu, a 23-year-old, 500-level student studying environmental management, was allegedly arrested on November 18 for a post he tweeted on his Twitter page on June 8. In some quarters, the arrest has been likened to abduction, citing that due process was not followed.
After public outcry, the detained critic was released from Suleja correctional facility on December 2, 2022.
The student alluding to her weight gain, wrote in Hausa, “Su Mama anchi kudin talakawa ankoshi”, which translates to “Mother has fed fat on public fund”, mother here referring to Aisha.
Aminu’s tweet that generated controversy
Muhammad was reported to have been beaten up alongside a former social media aide to the first lady, Zainab Kazeem, before he was eventually arraigned.
At the time, a call to the Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, in reaction to the claim that Adamu was arrested, told The ICIR via text message that he was unaware of the student’s arrest, although several media platforms reported that the student has been arraigned and was remanded.
The issue generated reactions from Nigerians, with many describing it as a misuse of power and abuse of government apparatus while citing the arrest as not in conformity with democratic principles. The hashtag #FreeAminu was also created on social media.
While condemning the action, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) described it as an abuse of power and demanded Muhammed’s release.
Also, the Global rights organisation, Amnesty International, called for the immediate release of Aminu, saying, despite having a stable democracy since 1999 after years of military dictatorships, illegal arrests are still a common feature in the country.
Joining the outcry, Nigerian comedian and skit maker, who is also a social activist, Macaroni, who took to his verified Twitter page, urged Aisha to go to court if she has any grievances.
Reacting further, Nigerian social activist, Aisha Yesufu, slammed Aisha Buhari for allegedly ‘ordering’ the arrest and detention of Aminu Muhammed. Noting that it is unlawful.
Hanan Buhari’s SIM card controversy
It will be recalled that in 2019, Aisha and President Buhari’s daughter Hanan was the subject of media reports which linked her to the arrest of Anthony Okolie.
In July 2019, the Department of State Service (DSS), arrested Anthony Okolie, and was detained for 10 weeks for using a sim card earlier used by Hanan.
The sim card the service provider, MTN, had recycled after it became dormant and sold to Okolie.
On May 14, 2020, a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, awarded the sum of N10 million naira to Anthony Okolie for his illegal detention by the Department of State Security (DSS).
Aminu’s release
Following the release of Aminu, reactions trailed the withdrawal of the suit by Aisha against the student.
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, opined that voices raised in the defense of Aminu were voices raised in defence of the freedom of speech.
A professor and social commentator, Kawu Garba, called on the student’s legal team to sue Aisha over the arrest and alleged torture.
“I call on Aminu’s legal team to sue Aisha Buhari over the abduction and torture of their client and seek compensation of N300M for him. This grave injustice should not be allowed to go scot-free,” he said.
This then brings to the fore a pertinent question on the legality and process of the arrest and release.
Can Aminu Sue?
To sue is to institute legal proceedings against a person and or an institution, typically to seek redress.
The ICIR spoke with human rights lawyers and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), to get their reaction and legal opinion on what steps can be taken by the student.
The deputy director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, in a telephone conversation with The ICIR, said Aminu has a cause of action against both the law enforcement agency and those that carried out his unlawful detention beyond the constitutionally allowed period.
“The law is very clear. The court has held consistently that those who initiated the process of using law enforcement agencies to infringe on other people’s rights will be liable,” Oluwadare stated.
The SERAP deputy director added that “It is very important to understand that the context of constitutional provisions of fundamental rights state clearly that you can approach the court to enforce your fundamental rights if your rights have been breached, that is, past tense if your rights are being breached, present continuous if your rights are going to be breached or likely to be breached”.
Speaking also with The ICIR, Abdulkareem Musa, a legal practitioner, also shed more light on the issue from the penal code angle.
He said, “Looking at it from the legal perspective and not just the social perspective, you will begin to consider relevant provisions of the law. Has Aminu conducted himself in a lawful manner?”
Musa explaining further stated, “By provision of Section 391 of the Penal code, which is like the criminal code that governs the northern part of Nigeria, a person is prohibited from making any statement, whether physically or through mechanical means, where he or she knows that the statement is capable of damaging the character of another person, or injuring the character of another person, or reducing that person in the estimation of the members of the society”.
After stating that the penal code prohibits defamation, he added that there are exceptions to the provision. He said are:
When what you are saying is true, you can say it.
When what you are saying is in the interest of the public
When what you are saying is to prevent a danger that the society or public interest may suffer as a result of your holding on to that information, then the law allows you to say it.
Musa explained further, saying, “the question then is, upon which ground did he make the assertion that Aisha has stolen the money of the ‘poor people’? Does he have the requisite information or defence? If there is a good defence for the statement that is ordinarily defamatory, then he has a right to sue under the fundamental rights procedure.”
Another human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, adding his legal opinion, also averred that Aminu can sue.
“The facts from News Agencies report that Aminu was arrested by the police and was not allowed to communicate with his family members or friends. He was neither allowed to contact any lawyer nor charged to court within 48 hours of his arrest. His family members only got to see him five days after his arrest.
“The foregoing indicates a breach of Aminu’s constitutional and fundamental right to liberty as guaranteed under Section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Additionally, it also violates his right to be timeously brought before a competent court of jurisdiction within a reasonable time of his arrest,” he said.
Olajengbesi added that it may be reasonable to presume that he must have been interviewed and questioned about the alleged crime while in custody before the whereabouts of his custody became known.
Suggesting that he would have been made to give a statement without the presence of his lawyer, which he says is against the provisions of the Administration Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
If Aminu wants to sue, who will he sue?
“By the provisions of the law, the first point of call is the Nigerian Police Force, who arrested and deprived him of his right to liberty. But because of the vicarious liabilities in our law, the person who committed the action immediately and the person who engineered him to commit the act are both liable for the act a person may complain of”, Musa explained.
Olajengbesi also said law enforcement agencies involved in the breach of Aminu’s constitutional rights may also join Aisha as a party to the suit.
“There is no office of the First Lady in the Constitution of Nigeria,” Olajengbesi said, “She is in no way covered by the immunity clause of the Constitution.”
Adding that if Aisha must be sued, it must be done in her personal capacity.
SERAP deputy director, Oluwadare, in his opinion, said Aminu’s rights were breached and therefore has a cause of action.
He said, “Constitutional provisions and case laws decided by the court, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria, have established clearly that damages would lie in favour of individuals whose fundamental rights have been breached, and in this instance, he has been released, so his rights are no longer being breached continually as it were. But he can ask for damages, and that is pecuniary damages in this instance.”
Oluwadre added that he can sue everyone that participated in that action, including individuals that made the complaint and law enforcement agencies that carried out the arrest and detention.
However, both lawyers spoken with agree that Aminu can be held liable under the Cybercrimes Act of 2015, particularly Section 24 (1), which makes him liable for the offence of cyberstalking unless he can prove his tweet to be true. Otherwise, he may be liable for both civil and criminal defamation.
![[SPECIAL REPORT] Aisha Buhari: Can Aminu Adamu sue?](https://www.icirnigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Aminu-Mohammed-and-Aisha-Buhari-768x527.jpg "[SPECIAL REPORT] Aisha Buhari: Can Aminu Adamu sue?")
