Headlines

Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have reached a consensus on establishing state police as part of efforts to address the country’s ongoing insecurity challenges. This decision was among the resolutions from Thursday’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, briefed journalists after the meeting, confirming that submissions on state police had been received from all states except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He explained that the NEC secretariat would engage stakeholders further and present a comprehensive report during the council’s next meeting in January.

Governors Sani noted that most states support the creation of state-controlled police forces, citing the need to address unique security challenges in their regions and the inadequacies of the current centralized policing system. He emphasized that a decentralised security framework would allow states to tailor measures to their specific needs, enhancing citizens’ safety.

“Virtually all 36 states have made their submissions, and most are in agreement on the establishment of state police. Considering the ungoverned spaces across Nigeria and the lack of personnel in existing security agencies, state police is seen as a practical solution to insecurity,” Sani said.

The push for state police has gained momentum as states struggle with rising insecurity exacerbated by limited security agency resources. Governor Sani pointed out that the current deficit in personnel across the police, army, and other agencies has left many areas vulnerable, making decentralised policing essential.

However, the NEC decided to defer final deliberations until its next meeting to allow the secretariat to compile and present a detailed report based on the states’ submissions. The council also resolved to conduct further stakeholder engagements to refine the proposal.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for tailored security approaches to address Nigeria’s complex and region-specific security challenges.

The law firm of Afe Babalola & Co. has filed a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking the disbarment of Lagos-based lawyer Dele Farotimi for alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

The 90-page petition, dated December 6, 2024, was signed by Ola Faro, a partner in the firm, who was also referenced in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. The petition accuses Farotimi of making unfounded allegations of corruption against the judiciary, including Supreme Court justices, Lagos High Court judges, and members of Afe Babalola & Co.

The petition outlines alleged breaches of professional conduct, including:

• Making false and defamatory statements about judicial officers and the legal profession.
• Assisting clients in illegal and fraudulent activities.
• Engaging in misconduct by bribing judicial officers and having unlawful access to them.
• Failing to maintain respect, fairness, and dignity in dealing with fellow lawyers and the courts.
• Using offensive and unprofessional language against the Supreme Court and its justices.

According to the petitioners, these actions discredit the judiciary and undermine the integrity of the legal profession. They argue that Farotimi’s statements in his book are capable of causing harm to the reputation of the judiciary, their law firm, and society at large.

The LPDC, tasked with regulating legal practitioners in Nigeria, has the authority to investigate allegations of professional misconduct and recommend sanctions, including striking a lawyer’s name off the roll of legal practitioners.

The petitioners stated that the petition was filed to uphold the dignity of the legal profession and the judiciary as a temple of justice. The LPDC’s decision, if unfavorable to Farotimi, can be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC arraigned Bello at the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering amounting to N80 billion.

The charges include accusations of diverting public funds for personal use, including acquiring properties both within Nigeria and abroad.

After the charges were read in court, Bello confirmed his understanding of the allegations and entered a plea of not guilty to all counts.

The court granted him bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties of equal value.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his decision to demolish properties supposedly built on government lands in Abuja, despite criticism from residents and property owners.

Leading reporters reports that the demolitions by Wike sparked controversy, with many residents left without homes.

A construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, recently raised the alarm over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.

However, Wike on Thursday insisted that the structures being demolished were illegally built on government lands and posed security risks.

He vowed to continue the demolitions, saying, “Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven.”

The minister also addressed allegations of blackmail, stating that he would not be swayed by threats or intimidation.

“What is wrong is wrong; no amount of blackmail can stop us,” he said. “We would stop anybody who thinks they will take government land for whatever reason with formal approval. We would not look at your face. If you like, be a civil rights activist or a television personality.”

Wike warned individuals who still owed ground rents in the FCT to pay up or risk their titles being revoked. He emphasized that security was a priority function of any government.

President Bola Tinubu is set to present the proposed 2025 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this during a plenary session, confirming that the President had communicated his intention to lawmakers.

“The president has made his intention known to the National Assembly to present the 2025 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly on the 17th of December, 2024,” Akpabio stated.

The proposed budget, amounting to N47.9 trillion, was previously disclosed by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

The Senate on Thursday mandated an investigation into the recent demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), directing the establishment of an investigative committee to examine the issue.

The committee is tasked with inviting Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, to provide an explanation for the demolitions, which have reportedly displaced numerous residents in the nation’s capital.

The motion, sponsored by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT Senatorial District, raised concerns over what she described as the illegal demolition of structures in the area. She also called for an immediate halt to further demolitions pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Senate resolved that the committee would conduct a thorough inquiry into the demolitions and submit its findings within a specified timeframe.

The House of Representatives was thrown into disarray on Thursday following the defection of Ajang Iliya, a lawmaker representing Jos South/Jos East federal constituency of Plateau State, from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection was announced by Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, who read Iliya’s letter during plenary. In his letter, Iliya attributed his decision to the leadership crisis within the Labour Party.

Despite a court ruling recognizing Julius Abure as the LP’s national chairman, a faction led by Nenadi Usman continues to claim control of the party. Iliya also stated his intention to align with the developmental policies of President Bola Tinubu, adding that it had become challenging to reconcile with the LP’s stance on various national issues.

“It is difficult to align with LP’s position on current issues,” the letter read.

The defection sparked outrage among opposition lawmakers. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader, argued that Iliya had not fulfilled the constitutional requirements to defect, noting that the lawmaker must officially join the APC at the ward level in Plateau State before formalizing his move.

The incident comes barely a week after four other Labour Party lawmakers defected to the APC. These lawmakers are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West federal constituency of Imo State), Mathew Donatus (Kaura federal constituency of Kaduna State), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani federal constituency of Cross River State), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo federal constituency of Edo State).

The defectors similarly cited the internal crisis within the Labour Party as their reason for switching allegiance.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), paid a courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at his residence in Daura, Katsina State.

Ahmad Bashir, a former media aide to the ex-president, shared details of the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), along with photographs of the occasion. Bashir highlighted the significance of the visit and provided updates on the Ooni’s engagements in Daura.

During the visit, Oba Ogunwusi also called on the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness Faruk Umar Faruk, at the historic Daura Emir’s Palace. Former President Buhari accompanied the Ooni and his delegation to the palace, underscoring the spirit of unity between traditional and political leaders in Nigeria.

In his post, Bashir stated: “Today, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), arrived in Daura with his entourage to meet with former President Muhammadu Buhari. Before departing the city, the former President personally escorted the Ooni of Ife and his delegation to the historic Daura Emir’s Palace.”