The Nigeria Police Force has announced that mandatory minimum third-party motor vehicle insurance would be enforced nationwide starting February 1.
This enforcement follows the directive from the police inspector general, Kayode Egbetokun.
Third-party motor vehicle insurance is a mandatory policy in Nigeria that provides financial protection against damages or injuries caused to third parties by the insured vehicle.
This insurance covers liabilities such as physical injuries, property damage, and death resulting from accidents involving the insured vehicle.
According to Section 68 of the Insurance Act and Section 312 of the 1945 Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act, all vehicle owners are required to possess third-party insurance before operating their vehicles on public roads. Non-compliance with these laws can result in penalties, including fines, imprisonment, or both.
Section 68 of the Insurance Act of 2003 states, “(1)No person shall use or cause or permit any other person to use a motor vehicle on a road unless a liability which he may thereby incur in respect of damage to the property of third parties is insured with an insurer registered under this Act.
“(Two) The insurance taken out pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall cover liability of not less than N1 million.
“(3Three) The insurance under this section shall be in addition to the liabilities required to be insured under the Motor Vehicle (Third Party) Insurance Act, 1950, and shall be regulated mutatis mutandis by the provisions of the Act.
“(Four) A person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N250,000 or imprisonment for one year or both.”
In a statement by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, all vehicle owners in Lagos must have at least a valid third-party insurance policy.
He urged those without any form of insurance to obtain one immediately and warned vehicle owners and operators against disregarding the order.
Hundeyin further stated that non-compliance would attract stiff penalties, including fines. “This initiative aims to ensure vehicle owners comply with stipulated insurance requirements to protect themselves and other road users,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, Lagos State Command, Olanrewaju Ishola, has directed officers involved in the enforcement exercise to carry out their duties professionally.
He also warned that any form of misconduct or disrespect toward the public would not be tolerated.
In Akwa Ibom, the commissioner of police, Baba Azare, led a monitoring team across the Uyo metropolis and Ikot Ekpene on Saturday. He stated that the exercise aligned with Section 68 of the Insurance Act.
Azare emphasised that possessing valid third-party insurance was a legal requirement for all vehicle owners before using public roads. He added that the enforcement aimed to protect road users, ensure accountability, and promote adherence to traffic regulations.
“Today, we are here to monitor the enforcement of the third-party insurance compliance in Akwa Ibom State.
“So far, so good, in all the areas we have visited, people are complying, those who have not complied, their vehicles will be impounded and taken to the police station, where they have to comply with the third-party insurance before the release of their vehicles. “For those who will not comply accordingly, the process of prosecution will take place,” Azare said.
Azare noted that the enforcement would be a continuous exercise until everyone complied.
In Edo State, police public relations officer, Moses Yamu, in a statement, said the commissioner of police in the state, Betty Otimenyin, urged vehicle owners to obtain third-party insurance.
The commissioner warned that those who failed to update their vehicle particulars, particularly third-party insurance, would face sanctions.
THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued a 25-year-old lady, Promise Eze, from a suspected ritualist and armed robber at an hotel in the Wuse area of Abuja.
The command said it had launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspect.
The FCT police public relations officer, Josephine Adeh, a superintendent of police, disclosed this in a statement shared on X on Sunday.
According to the statement, Promise Eze, from Ebonyi State, was found on Friday, January 31, tied to a chair, and her mouth sealed with plaster.
“She was found unconscious and in distress. Officers acted immediately, freeing her from captivity and rushing her to Wuse District Hospital, where she was resuscitated,” the police said.
Eze had checked into the hotel on January 30 with a man who introduced himself as Emmanuel Okoro from Lagos State.
Further investigations revealed that she had met the suspect online, where he introduced himself as Michael Prince and claimed to be an oil company worker based in Delta State. After she declined his invitation to Delta, they agreed to meet in Abuja.
The police disclosed that what was initially meant to be a harmless meeting metamorphosed into a traumatic experience for the victim.
The suspect allegedly brandished a dagger, used it to threaten and subdue Eze. He tied her hands and legs.
He also taped her mouth. He then left the hotel with her two mobile phones in preparation for how to “finish the job.”
The police added, “Alarmingly, before escaping, the victim overheard him speaking to suspected accomplices over the phone, informing them that he was on his way to regroup before returning to the hotel to finish the job.”
The police assured the public that efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend the suspect.
The FCT commissioner of police, Olatunji Disu, was quoted as strongly condemning the incident and cautioning residents, particularly young women, against meeting strangers without taking necessary precautions.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to public safety and urged anyone with useful information about the suspect’s whereabouts to report it to the police.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.
The ICIR reports that the incident adds to a chain of such crime in Nigeria’s capital.
A similar disturbing incident occurred in a hotel in the Wuse area of Abuja in 2024, where a man was apprehended for allegedly attempting to kill a lady for ritual purposes.
The man had reportedly tied the lady’s hands and legs but was caught and forced to loosen her.
He was eventually arrested by officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and handed to the FCT police who paraded and charged him in court.
Earlier in January this year, The ICIRreported how Eliojo Salomey, a 24-year-old serving National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) member based in Mararaba, a fast-growing community near Abuja, was allegedly butchered by her boyfriend, a gospel singer, Timileyin Ajayi.
Similarly, in July 2024, a young man, Nuhu Ezra, was arrested by the FCT Police Command for being in possession of a human skull and bones.
According to the command, he had picked up the human skull and bones in a bush to sell for N600,000.
The ICIRreported that there had been a growing challenge of violent crimes in Abuja.
According to the FCT police commissioner, the command dealt with a significant number of crimes, including 104 kidnappings and 268 armed robberies cases in the nation’s capital in 2024.
THE Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced its ex-depot (gantry) price of petrol from N950 to N890, citing the decline in the price of crude oil at the international market.
It announced this in a statement issued by its chief branding and communications officer, Anthony Chiejina, on Saturday, February 1.
The price reduction takes effect immediately.
“This strategic adjustment is a direct response to the positive outlook within the global energy and gas markets, as well as the recent reduction in international crude oil prices.
“As part of Dangote Refinery’s unwavering commitment to transparency and fairness, this price revision reflects the ongoing fluctuations in global crude oil markets, as highlighted in the refinery’s statement on 19th January, when a modest increase was implemented due to the previously rising international crude oil prices,” Chiejina said.
The ICIR can report that crude oil prices have fallen for the second consecutive week.
On Friday, January 31, Brent crude oil price fell to $76.85, after peaking above $80 in previous weeks, following United States President Donald Trump’s recently announced reforms.
In the statement on Saturday, the Dangote Refinery said with its gantry price reduction from N950 to N890, it expected to see a meaningful decrease in the cost of petrol nationwide.
He said the price slash would drive down the prices of goods and services, as well as the overall cost of living, with a positive ripple effect on various sectors of the economy.
“In addition, Dangote Petroleum Refinery calls upon marketers to collaborate in this effort, to ensure that these benefits are passed on to the Nigerian populace.
“This collective initiative will contribute to the wider economic recovery plan led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is dedicated to making Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and positioning the country as a leading oil export hub,” Chiejina added.
In a related development, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) believes that the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries would lead to a crash in the pump price of petrol.
The group said the refineries were fully operational, with its members loading petroleum products, including DPK, AGO, and PMS.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had revived the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries after years of failed turnaround maintenance on the facilities.
In a statement on Saturday by its national public relations officer, Joseph Obele, PETROAN said contrary to doubts that had greeted the two refineries operations, they had been revamped and were fully operational with its members loading petroleum products, including DPK, AGO, and PMS at the facilities.
“The resurgence of these refineries has sparked intense competition, which is expected to drive down petroleum prices.
“As Nigerians advocate for lower PMS prices, it is clear that competition is a crucial factor in triggering price reductions,” Obele stated.
He said the revitalisation of the facilities had numerous benefits, including the eradication of adulterated petrol, diesel and kerosene from the market.
The PETROAN regretted that for years, the absence of functional refineries led to a proliferation of fake petroleum products, posing significant risks to consumers.
“The refineries’ functionality has also contributed to a decrease in crude oil theft, which has hindered Nigeria’s ability to meet OPEC production targets. As crude oil production increases, Nigeria is expected to generate more revenue and stabilise the naira.
“The revitalised refineries have created job opportunities, with deserted depots now bustling with activity. The host communities are also benefiting from empowerment programmes, which are expected to positively impact insecurity and crime rates in the region,” Obele stated.
A MEDICAL jet has crashed into multiple buildings in northeast Philadelphia, causing homes and vehicles to go up in flames and injuring people on the ground.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company operating the plane, confirmed in a statement that the aircraft was on a medical mission on the evening of Friday, January 31, and carrying four crew members, a child patient, and the patient’s mum.
During a news conference at the crash site, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged that there would likely be casualties, describing the incident as an awful aviation disaster.
Emergency teams quickly arrived at the crash site, where residents gathered on streets with burning debris and aircraft wreckage.
Witnesses recounted a chaotic scene as many people were injured and buildings engulfed in flames.
Spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, Shai Gold, stated that the child aboard the plane was receiving treatment in the US for a life-threatening condition and the crew was on its way back to Tijuana, Mexico.
The spokesperson confirmed that the child was accompanied by her mother, a pilot, a copilot, a doctor, and a paramedic.
Gold also said a third-party charity funded the child’s treatment. “She fought quite a lot to survive, and unfortunately, this tragedy on the way home,” he said.
The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia issued a notice on X, urging Mexican nationals affected by the crash to call a helpline for assistance.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stated that officials were uncertain about the number of fatalities, but the city was asking for prayers for anyone and everyone affected.
The crash occurred just blocks away from Roosevelt Mall, a three-story shopping centre in a densely populated area of Philadelphia, the fifth-largest city in the U.S. The location is surrounded by terraced houses and shops.
Videos posted online show the plane descending rapidly, followed by a massive fireball.
Witnesses reported that shrapnel from the crash damaged cars and scattered burning debris across the streets. Photos of the aftermath reveal cars engulfed in flames and severely damaged.
This comes days after after a passenger plane collided in mid-air with a helicopter near Washington DC on the evening of Wednesday, January 29 2025.
JAPAN and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have handed over vehicles and ICT equipment to the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to boost the agency’s response to disasters.
The donation followed The ICIR’sinvestigation into how abandoned government projects expose communities in the state to erosion and related crises.
The equipment, handed over on January 30, in Awka, the state capital, includes 10 vehicles (three pickup trucks, four SUVs, and three cargo trucks) and 25 ICT devices (eight laptops, 10 GPS devices, five photocopiers, and two GPS flood detection and monitoring tools).
The intervention is part of the $690,000 project titled “Emergency Support to Climate Disasters in Anambra State,” aimed at equipping SEMA for timely and effective disaster response.
Speaking at the ceremony, the director and representative of UNOPS, Ifeoma Esther Charles-Monwuba, emphasised the project’s dual objective of providing immediate humanitarian assistance and strengthening disaster management systems in Anambra State.
“The overarching goal of this project is to provide humanitarian assistance to flood victims while enhancing the logistical and operational capacity of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency. This will ensure timely and adequate services are delivered before, during, and after disaster incidents in the state,” she stated.
She detailed how the vehicles and ICT equipment would transform the agency’s ability to respond effectively to natural disasters, particularly floods.
“The provision of these resources will not only enhance the logistical capacity of SEMA but also improve emergency preparedness and response outcomes. The vehicles, for instance, will ensure faster deployment of relief materials and personnel to affected areas, while the ICT tools will provide critical support in data collection, flood monitoring, and coordination of rescue operations.”
Charles-Monwuba also highlighted the project’s long-term focus on building resilience against climate disasters.
“Beyond the provision of equipment, we have also included capacity-building workshops to train SEMA staff on the proper use of these tools. The aim is to ensure sustainability and maximise the impact of this intervention. With this support, we hope Anambra State will be better prepared to handle future disasters and protect its communities.”
She expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for funding the project and reaffirmed UNOPS’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities.
“This collaboration showcases the power of partnerships in addressing climate-related challenges, and we are grateful to the Government of Japan for its dedication to disaster risk reduction in Nigeria.”
The project’s broader aim is to ensure that Anambra State is equipped to respond to disasters and prevent them, using advanced tools for flood monitoring and early warning systems.
The ICIRreported that Anambra, one of the South-East states battling perennial erosion and flooding challenges, has over 100 gully sites. Only about 30 have received attention according to a research, ‘Review of Gully Erosion in Anambra State: Geology, Causes, Effects, Control Measures and Challenges Associated with Its Mitigation’.
THE ICIR’s investigation showed that some of the awarded erosion and flood control contracts aimed at solving the problems have remained completely abandoned. Work never started on some while others were poorly executed and have almost returned to their previous states.
DRUG abuse is a menace that has affected many lives in Nigeria. The chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, announced at a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) joint press conference on June 19, 2023, that 31,675 drug offenders had been apprehended, resulting in 5,147 convictions and the seizure of over 6.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs.
Available figures from the UNODC 2022 report indicate that 14.4 per cent (14.3 million) of Nigerians within the age group 15-64 years abuse drugs.
Drug abuse in Nigeria has become endemic, and the consequence can be seen in the increase in the number of young people suffering mental health issues as a result of substance abuse.
Some survivors of drug abuse shared their gruelling experiences with The ICIR.
‘The devil gave me something to work with’
Mayor Ozizi, from Kogi State, a young man, from a family of five, was brought up with strong Christian values, however he got involved with drugs after his secondary school education while waiting to gain admission into tertiary institution.
Mayor Ozizi
Ozizi spotting a white shirt and black trousers calmly narrating how he got involved in drugs said, “I had friends who smoked cigarettes; I detest it. I see it as a very bad thing, but in life, they say never judge an action until you are involved in it.
“After secondary school, while waiting to gain admission into a tertiary institution, like they said, the idle mind is the devil’s workshop; the devil gave me something to work with, and it was drugs, unfortunately.”
Ozizi blamed peer group influence for his ordeal, pointing out that he wanted to “feel among” within his circle of friends.
“I also wanted to hear people share their experiences of how they took things like codeine, cough syrup that got them drowsy and high. Those feelings and peer pressure got me doing drugs, and I abused all sorts of drugs then, ranging from crack cocaine to smoking all sorts of cigarettes. I did codeine, I abused alcohol, I took cigarettes, I took Rephnol, Siphnol; all sorts of drugs,” he said.
He said his parents were shocked when they discovered he was using drugs because they did give him a good upbringing and provided him a conducive environment.
“I had no reason to do drugs because I have basically all I wanted. I was in school, and everything was going well with me. I was actively involved in Church activities. I was a very bright, upcoming child, but unfortunately, I got hooked on drugs, and my parents were shocked at first. Then I was trying to salvage the situation, but it just got worse and worse,” he said.
Road to rehabilitation
As the situation got worse so also his mental health deteriorated. It was at this point he knew he needed urgent help, before then he has dropped out of University of Ilorin where he was a 300 level student of accounting.
“Nothing happened; I just stopped going to school,” he said.
“I knew I needed help, but I couldn’t help myself. I was in a mess- total mess. I knew I was in a deep mess because I could not clean up myself, my hygiene was zero. I would leave my hair bushy; I couldn’t cut it, I would rather use the money to smoke, I could not wash my clothes. I was leaving like hell on earth,” Ozizi said.
After leaving university, he was taken to a rehab, where he spent three years without any improvement to his mental health.
“After that experience, that was when I really made up my mind that I was doing this for myself because, at some point, I thought I was going to be a better person for my parents or stop drugs because I was helping my parents. But, after three years, I knew that I was doing it for myself,” the now sober Ozizi stated.
Through a family friend his parents got to know Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF), a rehabilitation home in Abuja.
Freedom
After spending months at the rehabilitation centre, Ozizi was able to pick himself up and embrace a new life free from drugs. Although he said it was not an easy journey, he is quite happy with his freedom.
“I am in a state where I am really happy. I got my confidence back. I can now look at anybody in the eyes andface. I am all right; I am in my right state of mind,” he stated.
He said those days when he could not look people in the eyes when having a conversation were over as he has been able to overcome that after painstaking efforts. I couldn’t walk with my head up high, but now my self-confidence and self-esteem are 100 per cent,” he said, staring at the reporter eyeball to eyeball.
Life as a drug addict
Ozizi said being is financially draining as such he resulted to petty thieving, like stealing and selling his family property to buy drugs. For instance, he sold his family television set twice, removed fans from the ceiling, and sold standing fans.
“I sold them at ridiculous prices. I sold an air conditioner worth N250,000 for N2,500 just to get my next fix”, he said.
He talked back to his parents and attempted to get physical with them whenever they engage him.
Ozizi said that for any drug addict, the easiest thing is how to locate a place to buy drugs. “It is not hard; it’s just like a magnet when you are an addict. It won’t take you minutes for you to locate a hideout or a slum or ghetto where they sold drugs.”
Advice for people still hooked on drugs
Ozizi, who has gone back to school and is now completing his degree at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), advised people who still dwell on drugs to run away from it in their interest. He stressed that drug addiction is a life destroyer.
“Drug abuse is a menace now, everybody knows. It is really destroying youths, destroying destinies, destroying the lives of young ones. I will say total abstinence: don’t do drugs, don’t try it, if you have done, stop,” he advised.
He also advised guardians and parents of people still doing drugs to seek professional help.
‘How drugs stopped me from completing my law degree’
The ICIR also spoke to two young men who are recovering from drug addiction.
One of them, a 28-year-old who sought identity protection, said he started taking drugs at 16 and has now realised that it can only lead to destruction.
“At first, I thought it was fun; I thought it was something I could handle myself. I was doing it underground; nobody was aware until it started showing on me. People were asking me what was wrong with me—things like that,” he stated.
He said he tried to stop it but it was not easy, but thankfully, he had now learned how to manage it and was on the verge of quitting permanently.
‘I abandoned my law degree’
He stated that his addiction to drugs had hindered his ability to concentrate in school and ultimately prevented him from graduating with his peers from the law department.
He disclosed that he had been using drugs throughout his university years, and his addiction had led him to deceive his loved ones into sending him money.
“I was studying law; I left at my 400 level just a year to my final year, and my mates are done now. I used to lie to get money; I used to sell my own clothes or people’s property just to buy drugs.”
He revealed that, in his desperation for drugs, he had previously betrayed his dealers. Whenever he was broke, he would ask them for drugs, but they would mock or insult him.
In retaliation, he would report them to NDLEA or police officials to be caught. As a reward, he said he would receive a portion of the seized drugs, typically half or 80 per cent, and the dealers would be forced to pay for bail. He confessed that, at the time, his sole concern was getting his hands on drugs.
“Depending on the arrest, for instance, if they caught a dealer with four grams, they could give me three grams and just keep the remaining gram as evidence against the dealer. For the dealer, it is even better if there is less evidence.
“Sometimes, if I requested for money, they do give me to buy so as to confirm what I told them about the dealer. Any amount I requested, they gave me. NDLEA officers and Police, I worked with them,” he confessed.
According to him, after his condition got worse as a result of drugs, his parents took him to a rehabilitation centre for the second time in Abuja.
“At first I thought they could not handle my case at Secure-D-Future International Initiative. But they said all they needed from me was my cooperation and when I started cooperating with them, I started making adjustments and changes. I hope with time if I keep up with them by the grace of God, I will be off the drugs,” he told The ICIR.
‘My mother’s sudden death led me into drugs’
Another drug survivor who also pleaded to be anonymous said the death of his ‘beloved’ mother led him to take hard drugs.
According to him, he was the youngest child of his mother but thelack of adequate love from his stepmother and siblings after his mum died led him to loneliness and made him seek comfort in drugs.
The 32-year-old revealed that he started taking drugs at 14 while he was in SS2 and did drugs for about 14 years of his life.
A drug abuse victim
“I was very close to my mum, and when she died, I lost interest. I just had to find something that would keep me happy, I got relief from drugs.
“I am from a polygamous home; I do see my other siblings get motherly care, which I lacked. So, I started following bad friends; from them I learnt how to smoke weed; then I graduated to taking codeine and other drugs. When I was in 200 level, I got introduced to crack, which made everything worse,” he said.
Stealing, a normal habit for drug abusers
The young man who gained admission to Kwara State University but could not graduate also confessed, like others, that lying and stealing was the strategy he employed to finance his lifestyle.
“I lied; I do carry things that do not belong to me, like people’s phones. Whenever I was sent on an errand, I made away with the money just to get drugs. My dad got tired at some point after doing all he could. He lost interest in me because he thought I could never recover,” he stated.
Suicide thoughts crossed my mind
He revealed that he lost all hope and even attempted suicide. Fortunately, his sister intervened, bringing him to a treatment centre where he received much-needed help. He gratefully acknowledged his progress in overcoming his addiction.
Mental detoxification is necessary – Expert
A mental health advocate and founder of Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF), Saadatu Adamu, who spoke on the need for advocacy on mental health, said mental detoxification is key.
Adamu, who is also a counsellor, said it is not right to just focus on medication while looking after drug abuse survivors and not into physiotherapy and focus more on their minds because, according to her, everything starts with the mind.
mental health advocate and founder of Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF), Saadatu Adamu,
“If you listen to them, you will hear how the mind played a key role in what they were struggling with it in the past. so, we believe that mental detox is very key because you can add it up with medication,” she stated.
She advised people struggling with drugs to seek help. “You might think you can do it alone, but it might be difficult. It is important for them to seek help. I know society will frown at it, but it is the best thing to do,” she said.
DIGITAL money lending firms, popularly known as ‘loan apps’ have continued posting alleged ‘loan defaulters’ photos online. But the big question is, what does the law say about this act?
Nigerians woke on January 5, to witness pictures of 87 ‘loan defaulters’ in a video shared online, with the caption “Please settle your loan.”
This act, which has sparked outrage across the country, not only raises concerns about privacy violations but also highlights how the loan app’s actions may negate Nigeria’s laws designed to protect citizens from harassment, cyberbullying, and unauthorised use of personal data.
The ICIR has done extensive reporting on money lending firms and cyberbullying which you can read here and here. You can also read similar stories below:
Many loan apps claim to offer quick access to funds but have continuously use unethical ways to retrieve their funds like the recent act of the digital money lenders which has reportedly compiled the images of individuals who allegedly defaulted on their loans and shared them in a video.
The video was then posted online, accompanied by a message urging the defaulters to settle their outstanding debts.
Recall there were attempts by the government to curb the activities of these digital lenders.
In 2023 the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) delisted up to 37 loan apps for breach of privacy and operating without regulatory approval.
FCCPC had flagged many loan apps for violating the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending, 2022, and initiated efforts to shake up the digital money lending space.
Violation of privacy and data protection laws
A Lagos-based lawyer, Abulwasiu Mujeeb, highlighted the position of the law on the action done by the digital money lender. He condemned it as very brutal and unacceptable because it subjects the people involved to depression and intense frustration.
“The behaviour affects mental well-being, and ruins the reputations of the defaulters,” he said.
This act raises serious questions about the loan app’s adherence to Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), which mandates that personal information should only be processed for specific, legitimate purposes and with the consent of the individual.
He said the Data Protection Act (NDPR), Section 2.4 emphasises that personal data should be processed lawfully and fairly, with the consent of the data subject. The publishing of images without permission directly violates this provision.
Section 3.1 of NDPR on data minimisation also prohibits the use of personal data beyond what is necessary.
“Publicly displaying the defaulters’ images online for a non-consensual purpose goes against this principle,” he added.
He cited another law that penalises their act as the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2024 as amended, particularly Section 24, which criminalises the use of online platforms to harass or intimidate individuals.
The publishing of these photos and the accompanying message can be seen as an attempt to publicly shame and intimidate the defaulters, creating unnecessary emotional distress.
“Section 24 (1) of the Cybercrime Act makes it an offense to send or transmit messages online that are intended to harass or intimidate someone.
“The loan app’s video with defaulters’ photos could be perceived as offensive, obscene, and menacing, thus falling under this provision.”
Mujeeb noted that the Act also violates constitutional rights, adding that beyond data protection and cybercrime laws, this incident also infringes on the fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
He quoted Section 34 (Right to Dignity of the Human Person) which guarantees that no individual should be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment.
Also, Section 37 (Right to Privacy) guarantees the protection of individuals’ private data. Unauthorised publication of personal images is a direct infringement of this right, as it exposes individuals to public shaming without their consent.
Rights of defaulters and legal remedies
When asked if the defaulters have a case even though they are owing, he said what the lenders ought to have done was what defaulters are entitled to now.
He explained that if the loan app couldn’t get their money from the defaulters through messages and calls or even through their guarantors, they should have filed a case against them instead of publicly disgracing them.
Even though the way these sharks’ approach to contact the defaulters is also another dilemma, he recounted how he was contacted by one of them not long ago in respect of a loan obtained by a friend. “As if we obtained the loan together or I was there when he took the loan,” he said.
He said all these should signal a warning to the people patronising the sharks to stand for themselves and work against all odds not to take their loan.
He noted that the defaulters whose pictures were posted online can through the Human Rights Commission to seek redress in court for online harassment, data, and privacy violations.
Last year, the FCCPC warned against usitlising unethical recovery methods, while promising to take a “zero stance” against it.
“… the commission is intensifying enforcement efforts and adopting a zero stance towards any exploitation of consumers or abusive conduct whether in balance calculations, loan default enforcement or recovery process.”
The commission however advised consumers to patronise only approved digital money lenders.
FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of not fighting corruption but going after dissenting voices.
Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, disclosed this in a tweet on his X handle on Friday, January 31.
Usman was arrested on Wednesday, January 29, when operatives of the EFCC stormed his Abuja home at about 4:30 p.m. and picked him up for alleged N4 billion fraud, among other infractions. He was billed to be arraigned the following day.
His arrest followed an ongoing investigation into an allegation that he inflated the NHIA’s ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and approved payments beyond his approval limit.
According to mediareports, the EFCC is investigating Yusuf for also awarding contracts to a company known as Lubekh Nigeria Limited, where his nephew Khalifa Hassan Yusufu is a director.
Yusuf, a professor of haematology/oncology and bone marrow transplant, is also being held for financial mismanagement and abuse of office. It’s alleged that he used his position for personal gains, approving contracts without following due process and awarding contracts to firms that lacked the competence to execute projects.
Reacting to Yusuf’s arrest on Friday, Abubakar said his arrest was politically motivated and not an attempt at combating corruption.
“Two days ago, the nation was jolted by the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a fierce and unyielding social critic.
“Though the charges against him have been festering since the previous administration, it is impossible to ignore the strong likelihood that his detention is politically motivated,” Abubakar said.
He added that the Tinubu government, despite being riddled with individuals who themselves were embroiled in scandals and investigations by both local and international authorities, continued to use state machinery to silence its critics and weaponised pending investigations to suppress all opposition.
He said it was absurd that while the administration sheltered those under investigation, it continued to exploit state institutions to stifle dissent, all under the pretence of combating corruption.
“Even to the most inattentive, it has become glaringly clear that Tinubu is not waging a war on corruption – he is waging a war on the opposition, manipulating the system for his own political advantage.”
It was the third time within a week that Abubakar would criticise the president.
On Tuesday, Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai raised alarmover what they described as a growing threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja on Monday, January 27, the leaders warned that if urgent action was not taken, the country could lose its hard-fought democracy.
Abubakar highlighted the erosion of democratic values, arguing that Nigeria was at a crossroads.
He criticised the growing influence of the judiciary in determining electoral outcomes and argued that the courts, not the people, decided candidates and winners.
“We really are at a crossroads in this democratic experiment. We either decide we want to be democratic or we decide to abandon it,” he said.
Abubakar also expressed frustration with the National Assembly, calling for legislative reforms to empower political parties and ensure the people determine who governs them.
He further accused the Federal Government of undermining opposition parties through financial inducements, adding that some political party leaders were given N50 million each.
“I want to say it here publicly. I met with a political party leadership in the present opposition, and they told me flatly that this government gives them N50 million each.
“Where do we go from here? This means that if we are not careful, we are talking to some of you here, but you are recipients of the N50 million from the APC government,” the former PDP presidential candidate said.
Similarly, on Thursday, January 30, the former vice president attacked Tinubu’s government for arresting human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore. He also accused the government of picking the former NHIA executive secretary for probe.
He wrote on his X handle, “When I made the clarion call that Tinubu and the APC were devoting their energies to the systematic harassment, intimidation, and dismantling of the opposition, all in service of their grand design for a one-party autocracy, I became the target of vicious attacks. The arrest and baseless prosecution of @YeleSoworeis the latest chapter in this unrelenting campaign.
“Now, they have seen fit to add Professor Usman Yusuf — an outspoken critic of this administration — into their grim roster. At the pace they are going, it seems they may soon find themselves contending with the incarceration of every one of us.”
A CHEIFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has dismissed any possibility of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu failing in his bid for a second term.
He boasted that the Nigerian leader had a history of indomitability in elections.
In a social media post, Igbokwe argued that Tinubu’s political weight, influence years of planning for clinching the presidency, which he achieved in 2023, would see him through in 2027 when he recontests.
He dismissed critics and told those hoping to dislodge Tinubu in 2027 that the president would “reposition, retool, and restructure.”
“No Nigerian East, West, North or South can match PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) in raising men and women across Nigeria. His humongous works across Nigeria speak for him every day, any day, anywhere.
“Perish the thought if you are one of those who think he will fail and will not get a second term. He will succeed, he will reposition Nigeria, he will advance the course of Nigeria, he will grow Nigeria. He will fix Nigeria, he will retool Nigeria, he will restructure Nigeria, he will raise Nigeria up, he will reform Nigeria etc.
“If you want to fight your opponents, do some little due diligence about the person, study their backgrounds, ask questions about them, do what we call SWOT analysis, check his antecedents, check his track records, check where he is coming from etc,” he said.
However, Igbokwe’s position came at a time of deepening economic hardship and growing discontent with the Tinubu administration’s policies.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu’s policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy, and the floating of the naira, have led to skyrocketing inflation, worsening cost-of-living crisis, and increased hardships.
The prices of basic commodities, transportation, and services have surged, putting immense strain on average Nigerians.
The government’s handling of security has also drawn criticism, with continued kidnapping incidents, bandit attacks, and insurgency still posing a major threat across the country.
In addition, The ICIRreported that organised labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), have frequently clashed with the government over policies perceived as anti-worker, with continued threats of nationwide strikes over economic hardships.
While the president approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 in July 2024, many Nigerian workers have not yet received the improved salaries.
The workers are currently gearing up for nationwide protests against the 50 per cent hike in telecom services in the country – a hike endorsed by the Tinubu’s government. The protests are scheduled for February 4.
Growing political opposition and internal cracks in APC
Beyond the economic turmoil, Tinubu is facing increasing opposition both from within and outside his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
The former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Elrufai, and ex-minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who are notable chieftains of the APC, have distanced themselves from his administration.
Amaechi, also a former governor of Rivers State, had accused Nigerian leaders, including Tinubu, of having uncontrollable avarice for power.
He said Nigerian politicians’ primary objective was to hold on to power at all costs, even if it meant resorting to theft and violence.
Amaechi, who contested and lost the APC presidential primary to Tinubu in 2022, stated these at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja earlier this week.
Speaking at the event, Amaechi said the country’s situation required that citizens devise strategies on how to sack many leaders from office in the next election.
Similarly, El-rufai at the conferencedescribed the situation in the country as a “national emergency,” warning that the opposition risks extinction unless it united.
He called on opposition parties to form a united platform to challenge the ruling party and save the nation’s democracy.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) are also capitalising on Tinubu’s perceived failures to relaunch themselves into the hearts of Nigerians.
Leaders from both parties, including the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi (of the PDP and LP respectively) have consistently attacked Tinubu’s administration for failing to deliver good governance expected by citizens.
Abubakar and Obi vied for the presidency against Tinubu in the February 25, 2023 election but lost.
Many Nigerians believe that Abubakar and other leading politicians in opposition parties, including the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) are strategising to unseat Tinubu should he recontest for the presidency in 2027.
THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the immediate retirement of officers above 60 or those who have served for 35 years.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, on Friday, January 31, the commission at its 24th plenary meeting of 27th and 28th September 2017 had approved that recruits and other officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) should have their date of appointment in the Force against the date of their enlistment documented.
“The commission has passionately revisited its decision and has come to the conclusion that the said decision in its intent and purpose contradicted the principle of (the) merger of service in the Public service and it is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 ( i & ii) which provides for retirement on (the) attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.”
“Accordingly, the commission, at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th management board held today, Friday, 31st January 2025, approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.”
The commission’s chairman, Hashimu Argungu, a retired deputy inspector-general of police, presided over the meeting, which had Adamu Paul Galumje, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, who represented the judiciary in attendance.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Taiwo Lakanu, a deputy inspector general of police, who represented the police; and Onyemuchi Nnamani, the commission’s secretary.
The commission added that it had conveyed the decision to the inspector general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for implementation.
This is coming amid controversy surrounding Egbetokun’s tenure as the NPF chief.
Decision comes amid protests against Egbetokun’s continued stay in office
Egbetokun has continued to face the heat since Monday, January 27, when a human rights activist and the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, honoured the police invitation in Abuja.
Sowore was later charged by the police for alleged cyberstalking and false publication against Egbetokun on Tuesday, January 28.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and shared by Sowore’s handle on X,showed that the lawsuit stemmed from his posts on X, where he was said to have referred to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.”
According to the charge sheet seen by The ICIR, the police accused Sowore of making statements capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.
Sowore, in a fresh post on his Facebook handle on Thursday, January 30, insisted that the IGP’s tenure was illegal.
However, in a statement signed by police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday, the NPF said Sowore’s claim was unfounded and sought to undermine the legitimacy of the IGP’s appointment as well as public confidence in the police.
It referred to Part III, Section 7 (6) of the amended Police Act, 2020, which states, “The person appointed to the office of the inspector-general of police shall hold office for four years.”
According to the police, this amendment aims to provide stability and continuity in the leadership of the NPF, enabling the IGP to implement long-term plans and policies without fear of abrupt termination.
“It is crucial for members of the public to be aware that IGP Egbetokun’s status as the 22nd Indigenous inspector-general of police is both legally and procedurally sound,” the NPF stated.
The police said it viewed Sowore’s claim as an attempt to erode public trust and foster confusion regarding the force’s leadership.
Quoting relevant portions of the amended Police Act, the attorney-general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, a senior advocate, also averred that Egbetokun’s continued stay in office was legal.
Genesis of crisis
The ICIR reports that President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as acting IGP’ in October 2023, pending his confirmation by the National Assembly.
The appointment took effect on the 31st of the same month.
Egbetokun should have left office on September 4, 2024, the day he clocked 60.
Rather than allow him to go, the Tinubu-led Federal Government pushed a bill for the amendment of the Police Act, which consequently paved the way for the IGP’ to remain in office for four uninterrupted years, meaning he will quit office in October 2027.
Many citizens who opposed this speedy amendment of the Police Act by the National Assembly claimed the move was to aid Tinubu, who is likely to seek a second term and use Egbetokun and the entire police to his advantage in the 2027 presidential poll before Egbetokun’s tenure will elapse.
The ICIR reports that Egbetokun was Tinubu’s chief security officer when he was Lagos State Governor in 1999.
He was promoted to deputy inspector-general of police shortly after Tinubu’ won the February 25, 2023, presidential election, with many Nigerians suspecting he could be the next IGP’ because of his closeness to Tinubu.
