1
The Federal Government on Friday called on Nigerians to empathise with and appreciate personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies instead of victimising them. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the call while meeting with Title Editors of Nigerian newspapers in Lagos, also urged the public to resist the temptation to tar all officers with the same brush. The call is not unconnected to the killing of security agents by hoodlums who hijacked peaceful #EndSARS protest against police brutality.
2
FORMER Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, All Progressives Congress, APC, Borno South has hailed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu and other security personnel for the arrest and extradition of the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force Team Abdulrasheed Maina. He has also revealed plans of proceeding with the process of withdrawing my suretiship for Maina with immediate effect because “Maina’s action has shown that he is not trustworthy”
3
Francis Oransanye, the Counsel to Maina’s son Faisal has informed the court that he had withdrawn his legal services to the defendant. Because of the absence of legal representation for the defence, prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar asked the court to foreclose the right of the defendant for a defence to the testimonies against him. granting the prayer, the judge stated that he was foreclosing the defendant’s right in the matter “having been given the same opportunity to defend same but failed to take advantage of the said opportunity.”
4
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has advised the Federal Government to embrace a radical approach to tackle the current security crisis in the country instead of trading blames and giving excuses. CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media & Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, said rising lawlessness, banditry and terrorism, especially in the North needed to be addressed.
5
A private radio station, LOVE FM, 104.5 located at Mpape, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been razed by fire. The fire, which started around 7.30 pm, razed the computers, furniture and transmitters at the station. The cause of the fire could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
6
The Commissioner of Investment and Abuja Liaison in Ebonyi State, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, has withdrawn his surety for former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim. Nkama, who stood as surety for Anyim in a trial instituted by the Economic and a Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the former Senate President, withdrew his surety status due to what he termed “recent events in the last two weeks” involving the ex-Senate President.
7
Domkat Bali, a former minister of defence, has died at the age of 80. Bali, who served as Minister of Defence and member of the Supreme Military Council between 1984 and 1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985 to 1990, died on Friday.
8
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, of encouraging terrorism in Nigeria. PDP’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan alleged that the Buhari-led APC is responsible for the killing of innocent Nigerians by terrorists, adding that APC members once sympathised with terrorists in a bid to frustrate the efforts of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
9
The Nigerian Government on Friday unveiled the price range for travellers on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line route. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed that rail passengers are to pay N3, 000 per economy seat, N5, 000 for business class and N6, 000 for first-class seats.
10
The 36 state governors are to meet President Muhammadu Buhari, as soon as possible, to address security challenges across the country, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said. The forum disclosed this in a communiqué signed by its Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, after its 22nd teleconference meeting in Abuja on Friday. According to the communique, Buhari will particularly speak in the light of the attack on farmers in Borno State.
