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Police teargas protesters in Abuja

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigeria police on Monday fired tear gas at peaceful protesters in the Maitama area of Abuja, as demonstrators took to the streets to demand urgent government action on worsening economic conditions, rising repression, and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act.

LEADING REPORTERS reports that the protest, which was part of a nationwide demonstration organized by the Take-It-Back Movement in collaboration with several civil society organizations, coincided with the National Police Day celebrations held at the Eagle Square.

Authorities, as part of the security arrangements for the official event, had placed a blockade around the Three Arms Zone, where top police officials were expected to attend the ceremony honoring the service of the Nigeria Police Force.

The demonstrators, including human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore; carried placards with messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe”.

The protest is aimed at drawing attention to what the organizers described as a growing wave of authoritarianism under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, who led the mobilisation, highlighted the key issues fueling the protest.

They included soaring inflation, nationwide insecurity, and the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

At the time of filing this report, there were no confirmed reports of injuries or arrests.

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Protesters Flood Streets in Abuja, Lagos, Others Despite Police Warnings

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Protesters are currently out on the streets of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital City and Lagos, commercial capital of the largest black nation on earth.

The protests organised by the Take It Back Movement, are ongoing despite repeated warnings by the police.

In Abuja, Omoyele Sowore, a leader of the movement, and Deji Adeyanju, human rights lawyer, were seen leading the protest, resisting attempts of police officers to take them off the streets.

In Lagos, group of protesters were seen with placards in Ikeja, capital of the state.

In Rivers, the organisers converged on Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, but were teargassed before the protest gained momentum.

The police authorities had warned against the protest, saying scheduling it to hold on the same day designated by the government as National Police Day was unacceptable.

In a statement, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, said the planned protest appears to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police and, by extension, the nation.

The statement said, “The Nigeria Police Force has read in the news that a group called ‘Take it Back Movement’ is planning a protest across various states of the Federation, most especially the Federal Capital Territory, scheduled to hold on Monday 7th April, 2025, a day earmarked by the Federal Government as the National Police Day, to celebrate the resilience and dedication of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

“While not against the exercise of citizens right to peaceful assembly and association in Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned about the motive behind such protest scheduled on the same day the contributions of the Nigeria Police Force to national security is to be celebrated, putting into consideration that such glamorous event would bring together dignitaries from all spheres of life both internationally and within the country, including Foreign Inspectors-General of Police and Diplomats.

“The rationale behind staging a nationwide protest on the same day is, however, questionable and perceived to be a deliberate attempt and unpatriotic act that is capable of rubbishing and maligning the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole.

“The Nigeria Police Force hereby advises the organisers to shelve this planned protest as it is ill-timed and mischievous.”

The statement called on individuals intending to join the protest to engage in discussions with appropriate government agencies instead of taking to the streets.

The take-it-back movement said it called for a nationwide demonstration to address what it called the “authoritarianism of President Bola Tinubu administration, abuse of human rights and the misuse of the Cybercrime Act.”

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Ambassadorial List: Shehu Sani, Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode Among Top Nominees

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani; ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri; and former governors of Abia and Enugu States, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, are reportedly among those nominated for ambassadorial appointments by the Nigerian government.

Fola Adeola, founder of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc; Femi Pedro; and Femi Fani-Kayode are also reportedly on the list.

It was learnt that the nominees are currently being screened by the Department of State Services (DSS), and the final list will be made public soon.

According to Vanguard, one of the appointees confirmed his nomination on the condition of anonymity on Sunday.

On why the names of the appointees had not been released, an official from the presidency told the newspaper anonymously that, “When those appointed have cleared security checks, we will release the list.

“Only those who have been cleared are announced. The process is ongoing. I know we should have a list before the end of this month.”

LEADING REPORTERS recalls that the country’s ambassadors were recalled from their postings last year without replacement.

However, President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, who earlier spoke about the delays, noted that nominations for ambassadorial roles must be thorough before a final list is transmitted to the National Assembly.

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Nigeria's NNPC spent $10 billion on fuel subsidy in 2022 paid to WHO Leading reporters
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NNPC Ltd Announces New Senior Management Team

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Following the appointment of the Group Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced the appointment of a new 8-man Senior Management Team on Friday.

Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye made this known in a press release on Friday.

The team which will be headed by the GCEO, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has Roland Ewubare as Group Chief Operating Officer; Adedapo Segun as Group Chief Financial Officer; and Olalekan Ogunleye as Executive Vice President Gas, Power & New Energy.

Other members of the team are: Udy Ntia as Executive Vice President Upstream; Mumuni Dagazau as Executive Vice President Downstream; Sophia Mbakwe as Executive Vice President Business Services; and Adesua Dozie, as Company Secretary & Chief Legal Officer.

All appointments are with immediate effect.

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Tinbu
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Tinubu Hails Asiwaju of Ijebuland, Sulaiman Adegunwa, at 80

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Asiwaju of Ijebuland, Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, on his 80th birthday, commending the industrialist for his significant contributions to national development.

In a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described Adegunwa as a longtime friend, seasoned businessman, and philanthropist whose work has impacted people and institutions across Nigeria.

“As he clocks 80, we celebrate a remarkable Nigerian whose investments in key sectors continue to drive economic growth, create employment, and improve livelihoods,” the President said.

Adegunwa, a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, currently serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Essay Holdings Limited, the parent company of Rite Foods Limited. The company operates a modern food and beverage production facility in Ososa, Ogun State.

Tinubu praised Adegunwa’s leadership and philanthropic efforts, highlighting his role in building enterprises that promote both economic development and community well-being.

He prayed for Adegunwa’s continued good health and long life as family, friends, and associates gather to celebrate the milestone.

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Ayo Sotinrin
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Tinubu Appoints Ayo Sotinrin Managing Director Bank of Agriculture

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ayo Sotinrin as the new Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

The appointment was announced on Friday, April 4, 2025, in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Sotinrin, a seasoned finance and agribusiness professional, previously served as Group Chief Executive Officer at SAO Group. According to the Presidency, his tenure at SAO Agro was marked by major agricultural ventures, including the development of a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava projects in Ondo State.

He also led SAO Capital, where he facilitated over $750 million in infrastructure and development financing, notably securing $200 million for the Akure Water Supply Project.

In the public sector, Sotinrin served as Special Adviser on Environment and Urban Development to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory from 2011 to 2015. He has also consulted for international development organisations such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, DFID, and USAID.

His private sector experience includes roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency.

Sotinrin holds an Executive MBA from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, a Master’s degree in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick, and an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation.

The Presidency said the appointment aligns with President Tinubu’s efforts to revitalise the agricultural sector, noting that Sotinrin’s expertise in mobilising capital and driving agribusiness innovation would support the BOA’s mandate for food security and rural development.

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Tinubu
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Rivers Law Firm Calls for Tinubu’s Removal as ECOWAS Chairman

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

A prominent law firm, Crownfield Solicitors, has called for the removal of President Bola Tinubu as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing alleged democratic violations in Rivers State.

In a letter addressed to the regional bloc, the firm accused Tinubu of imposing a “pseudo-military rule” in the state. The letter, signed by Chief Festus Ogwuche in collaboration with the Campaign for Social Justice and Constitutional Democracy in Africa, alleged that Tinubu’s actions violated regional treaties and threatened democracy in West Africa.

The firm claimed that Tinubu, in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman, suspended democratic institutions in Rivers State and installed a “neo-junta regime.” It argued that these actions contravened key international agreements, including:

  • Article 4(g) of the ECOWAS Treaty, which mandates the promotion of democracy and human rights.
  • Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees citizens’ right to participate in governance.
  • The ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001), which requires member states to uphold democratic principles.

Crownfield Solicitors warned that Tinubu’s actions set a dangerous precedent that could encourage authoritarian rule in other ECOWAS nations. The firm stated that such developments undermine progress in stabilizing West Africa, particularly amid recent military coups in the region.

“These actions diminish ECOWAS’s credibility and its commitment to democratic governance,” the letter read in part. “If unchecked, they will embolden further violations across West Africa.”

The firm demanded:

  • Tinubu’s removal as ECOWAS Chairman for failing to uphold the organization’s principles.
  • The restoration of democratic institutions in Rivers State.
  • Intervention by ECOWAS leaders to prevent further erosion of democracy.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Nigerian government, the ECOWAS Commission, Parliament, and Court of Justice.

The call for Tinubu’s removal follows his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, citing a protracted political crisis and vandalization of oil facilities. The President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

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Court bars parties from granting interviews in Natasha’s case against Akpabio, others

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has barred parties in the suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three others from granting press interviews on issues relating to the case.

The judge issued the order on Friday following a complaint by the lawyer to Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), that the plaintiff was moving from one television house to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to her case, which is currently pending before the court.

In a brief ruling, Justice Nyako said there shall be no press interviews by all parties and their lawyers regarding the subject matter of the case.

Justice Nyako also barred parties and their lawyers from engaging in streaming the proceedings of the case on social media.

Details shortly….

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Apc
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APC Speaks on Replacing Shettima As Tinubu’s Running Mate in 2027

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is planning to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party denied rumours of a rift between Tinubu and Shettima, describing the speculation as baseless.

This clarification comes as some of the President’s supporters and party figures begin to mobilise for his possible re-election campaign, even though he has not yet officially declared his interest in seeking a second term.

Within opposition circles, there have also been concerns that Shettima may not have enough political strength in the North to help secure a second-term victory.

Speaking to Daily Trust, APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described the rumours as “baseless” and dismissed them as “pure speculation.” He further said, “Even if, for any reason, the president were to consider replacing the vice president, he cannot do so singlehandedly. Such a decision would require extensive consultation with critical stakeholders.” He added that the conversation was nothing more than “beer-parlour talks.”

Meanwhile, political stakeholders from the North Central region have renewed their demand for either the presidency or vice presidency in 2027.

Leaders from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, and Kwara states met in Abuja, led by Professor Nghargbu K’tso, to advocate for the region’s inclusion at the highest level of government.

The leaders called on major political parties to zone the presidency or vice-presidency to the region. They argued that if the APC gives President Tinubu the “right of first refusal,” then the vice-presidency should be given to the North Central.

Professor Nghargbu pointed out that the North Central and South East are the only regions that have not produced a democratically elected president or vice president since the return to democracy in 1999.

He said, “This is about fairness. We want to be recognized not as mere political adjuncts but as full stakeholders in the ‘One North’ project.”

In response to these calls, Bala Ibrahim dismissed the demand as “unrealistic” and “dead on arrival.”

He argued that the North Central region has made similar demands in the past, which he described as “irrational” and politically divisive. He noted that the region’s electoral contribution does not justify such a claim, especially compared to the North West. Ibrahim said, “They have made similar demands in the past, but these are often irrational and only serve to create unnecessary political tension.”

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JUST IN: One dead, others injured as military grenade explodes in Lagos

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A military grenade has reportedly exploded in Idi-Araba, Mushin area of Lagos State killing on person – a yet-to-be-identified scavenger – on the spot.

It was gathered that three other people were injured from the explosion which rocked the area on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Sources present at the location where the incident occurred said some scavengers were trying to dismantle one of the grenades in their possession when the device detonated and exploded.

The explosion led to the immediate death of one of the scavengers while three others who were injured are currently receiving medical attention at a hospital.

One of the eyewitnesses, Akin Olawale said, “A sound of explosion was heard around past 12 pm and the police were immediately contacted because no one could ascertain the cause. It was later when the police arrived that we discovered that it was a grenade. The scavengers were trying to cut one of them open when it detonated.”

According to eyewitnesses, two other grenades in the possession of the scavengers are still undetonated and have been taken away from the scene of the incident by security operatives.

Confirming the explosion, the spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin said, “The explosion was caused by a military-grade grenade. One person was killed and three were hospitalised. The incident happened at about 1:30pm and the Explosive and Ordinance Department has rendered the place safe.

“The scene of the incident has also been cordoned off. There is a zero possibility of another explosion and investigation has commenced,” Hundeyin said.

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