The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been advised to be more civil and professional while discharging their duties in public.

Legal experts who gave this advice were talking on the legality of EFCC'S raiding of Conference Hotel in Ogun State, describing the action as primitive and obnoxious.

Nigerian Newstrack correspondent spoke to Barristers Habeeb Whyte, Semiu Akinbami and  Biola Adesanya who all agreed that the EFCC has a right to arrest at anytime, but must act within the confines of the act establishing the commission.

Excerpts of the interview is shown below:

Barrister Habeeb White, in his words said,"I think the approach and manner to which the commission effected arrest on the teeming Nigerian youths at that place was very wrong. It was not done in a normal and civilised manner. It was more or less like a fracas, more like you were coming to fight people, you were coming for war."

"When you are making arrests and you are shooting, you are harrassing people, you are beating them up, you are collecting their phones to be checking. You should have done your thorough research or investigation before coming into that place."

"Fine, EFCC has a right to arrest anybody at anytime they want to do that but it should be done in a cordial and civil manner. What they did that day portrayed the commission as not being a professional body itself."

"That is, in my own simple way ,they never applied caution , common sense with what they did, with all due respect. Imagine you entering an event and you are shutting down the whole light , shooting in the hall, for what? If you are looking for criminals ,are you saying everybody in that all, on that day, are all criminals? If you are to say that everybody in that place are all criminals, does it mean that the commissioner of police that was there on that day is also a criminal too?"

"There are several ways of effecting arrest, we have watched the way FBI would burst into people and will arrest them ,without even affecting the innocent ones."

"It means that the commission only relied on hearsay, they were not sure about who and who they were going there to arrest. How would you arrest people searching phones, stripping them, beating them up, it is very bad. It is very bad for our system and EFCC has portrayed itself in another manner that most of us do not think they should be operating."

"Yes, EFCC is empowered to arrest people, but when you are arresting someone there are procedures to do it, that is what we are saying. We are not saying they should not do their job, all we are saying is that they should follow the rules of law. How could you be barging into people's hotel rooms, destroying properties."

"Now they have arrested, who will repair the damaged properties now, who will do that? Nobody will do it. They are causing more harm, more economic hardship for the hoteliers now. Look at the hotel, they destroyed it, they took people's phones away, who are the people that will get those things back? Is that the law? The law protects everybody, the innocent, the victim ,the guilty one, the law protects everybody. So that when you are carrying out your own lawful duties it has to be in accordance with the law."

Barrister Semiu Akinbami in his own submission said, "there can not be raiding indiscriminately. They must have got an information about a person or group of persons. But it cannot be like the number of people arrested at the conference hotel like 60, 70. No!"

"Granted they can arrest and investigate but it cannot be 60 people at thesame time, in a confine place like conference hotel. I understand those people were there for socials, giving them awards , how can that constitute.., they can not all be criminals. How can they say they want to investigate all of those who came for an award."

"But if after investigation they realised that they are not affected or they have not committed any offence the best is to release them unconditionally".

Barrister Biola Adesanya who is handling the release of some of the victims arrested said, "the way and manner they got people apprehended at the area is not ideal at all, is not pleasant, it is an obnoxious act".

In his words, he said "it is an act that is unspeakable, it is a despicable act that  should be condemned absolutely, totally".

"Ordinarily, even if EFCC has an informant within or they have an information that some guys are gathering in a place where they want to have a ceremony and award themselves, there is a way they can go about it. The law is clearly written and stated  when it comes to issues like that."

"First of all before they can invade people's premises there is what is called search warrant, except there is reasonable ground that criminal activities are going on within that premises, that is when that search warrant would not have a role to play."

"Let them present their search warrant, by the time they present it I am very sure the conference authority will afford them that opportunity to carry out their search or searches. And at that point if they get to any ocassions like that they need not to destroy anybody's property, they need not to harrass anybody other than whosoever they are targeting, whosoever they are suspecting to be the target, they can walk up to such person, presents their warrant of arrest or search warrant and search the person. If they are able to establish any form of criminal nexus or criminal responsibility or if they are able to establish that ok, this person we've come to search, that person is culpable of what they are alleging him of, then at that point they can arrest such person for further investigation."

"Not bumping into an occasion, start harrassing people, start arresting people then take them off. That their action is tantamount to ultra vires action, acting outside the purview, outside the bound of their power. And it is questionable, it is an act that is making us feel there is no law in Nigeria anymore, and we have law, we have good laws. Nobody is above the law, they are not above the law, they are still Federal government agency, they are working for the federal government."

"Even the police is well recognised in the 1999 constitution, more than the EFCC. EFCC was never mentioned in the 1999 constitution, they are not recognised. Even if they want to carry out such operation, it should be the police that would do that not EFCC. What is the full meaning of EFCC? Why are they now going outside the act that established them? Why are they going outside the act that made provisions for their 'does' and 'don'ts'? The only thing they can be seen to be doing is to be infringing on people's fundamental rights. Their action is totally in repungnance to chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution, which has to do with right to presumption of innocence, personal liberty and all."

"Everybody arrested there have their right to be protected under the 1999 constitution. Majority of them are innocent, but the innocent ones that were arrested instead of releasing them. What they should have done, if you arrest anybody and you get to find out that, that person you arrested is an innocent person ,then at that point they should have released such person unconditionally, not giving such person stringent bail conditions to regain his freedom."

"It is wrong, what if the person can not meet up that bail conditions, what would now be his fate? He will be languishing in their custody or in their prison, or in their detention, it is wrong. What is wrong is wrong, let us be factual about what they have done. Coming to invade people's property, late midnight, destroying their property to break in, that is what? As for me, I would refer to them as official criminals."

It would be recalled that the EFCC had few months ago raided some hotels in Abeokuta causing anger from some lodgers who claimed the operatives broke into their rooms and saw them naked.

The recent in their sting operation was the Conference hotel, where the operatives were widely reported as unknown gunmen at the early hours of Sunday morning.

Reports had it, that the men arrived at the hotel in a combat-like manner and shot into the air repeatedly causing panic.

The operatives were said to have arrived the hotel around 2:00 a.m. and left after less than an hour operation. They reportedly went away with over 20 cars and numerous mobile phones.

The commission when contacted denied the raid as both, the Public Relations Officers of the Ibadan and Lagos offices of the EFCC denied knowledge of the alleged invasion.

The spokesperson for Ibadan zone, Tokunbo Odebiyi, said he has no information about the operation.

“I’m not aware of any invasion of any hotel in Abeokuta.”

His counterpart in Lagos, Ayo Oyewole, also said he was unaware of the raid.

The commission later confirmed the raid of Conference Hotel.

Spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said the agency’s operatives came to arrest Yahoo Yahoo Boys who were holding an award ceremony on Saturday night.

The operatives of the Lagos Command arrested 60 suspected internet fraudsters, he said.

The event tagged “Peer Youths Awards”, investigation revealed, was organised to reward high-level internet fraudsters.

Thousands of travellers were stranded on Thursday on the Benin-Auchi Road as drivers blocked the route with their vehicles to protest against the abduction of one of their colleagues on Wednesday.

The blockade, which was mounted along the road at Ugha community, left many commuters lamenting their fate.

One of the drivers said they blocked the road to draw attention to the continuous abductions of their colleagues by gunmen on the route.

He said, “One of our drivers was kidnapped on Wednesday and we reported to the police, but nothing is being done to search for him. Another one was kidnapped several months ago and we are afraid he may have died as he is yet to be found.

“We are not leaving here until the government does something about it. We brought with us seven bags of rice, pots and other ingredients to cook. That is how serious we are.”

A passenger, Collins Aghedo, who was travelling to Abuja, stated that passengers had been stranded for hours as the drivers were bent on drawing the attention of the authorities to their plight.

“It has been very tough since morning. Getting stuck in one place without knowing what will happen is a harrowing experience. We hope that the police will come to our rescue,” he added.

Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Kontongs Bello, said the police visited the protest ground to pacify the drivers, adding that efforts were being made to rescue the victims.

In a statement on Thursday, the PPRO said, “On December 1, around 8.52pm, credible information from the Obagie vigilante chairman revealed that armed bandits, suspected to be kidnappers numbering about 20, intercepted a Galaxy bus with the number plate, JJT 989 FC, on the Benin-Auchi Road by Rubber Plantation/ Ugha slope with nine passengers, en route to Uromi, Edo State, from Ibadan, Oyo State.

“On receipt of the information, the Ehor DPO, Ben Alpha, swung into action, mobilised police operatives in collaboration with military and local vigilantes for bush combing and rescue operation. In the process, six victims were rescued unhurt — four males, one female and a baby. Bush combing is still ongoing with the aim of rescuing the remaining four victims and further arrest of the suspected kidnappers.”

Punch

A poultry farm, Redi Foods has dragged Hybrid Feeds Limited to court over sale of poisonous poultry feeds in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Our correspondent gathered that Redi Foods had over a three-month period last year bought poultry feeds from Hybrid Feeds.

It was however revealed that more than 2,000 birds that consumed the feeds purchased by Redi Foods died few days after consumption of the feeds.

Tests conducted by a government approved laboratory revealed that the laying birds kept for breeding by the claimant died as a result of the contaminated feeds.

Our correspondent who witnessed the Court session on Thursday, gathered that failure of the Hybrid Feeds to compensate the claimant made the claimant to drag the company to Court.

Counsel to the claimant, Mr Adebayo Salau told Justice Ishola of Court 8, Oyo state High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan on Thursday that all efforts made by the claimant to get compensation proved abortive.

He said, "I am here to represent my client who is the claimant. What happened was that my client purchased some poultry feeds at Hybrid Feeds and almost the whole stock died.

"It was discovered that the feeds were highly poisonous, with Aflatoxin level 11 times above the safe levels permitted, to the extent that the birds reared by my client died rapidly within a few days.

“At the last sitting of the court on March 11, 2021, counsel to Hybrid Feed pleaded with the court to grant it time to settle out of court with my Client, Redi Foods. It turned out, however, that they were merely playing games and probably looking for ways to buy time.

"Now, today we have applied to the Court that the case be adjourned for hearing.

"We are demanding the sum of N12.5m for the loss and we are demanding the sum of N5m as general damages, making a total of N17.5m

Counsel to the defendant, Ms Seun Akande, in her submission told the Court that the defendant and the claimant were yet to agree on the terms and conditions in the out of Court settlement process.

She said, "We have not been able to reach a compromise".

The presiding judge after listening to both the claimant’s and defendant’s counsels on Thursday, then adjourned the case till 1st March, 2022.

The judge said, "The case has been adjourned till 1st March 2022 for hearing".

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced three telcos as approved bidders of the forthcoming 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of the fifth generation (5G) networks.

The qualified bidders include MTN Nigeria Plc, Mafab Communications Limited, and Airtel Networks Limited.

Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s director of public affairs, said this in a statement issued on Thursday.

The commission said that the qualified bidders met the criteria for participation in the licensing process of the 3.5Ghz spectrum, including payment of the stipulated Intention to Bid Deposit (IBD) as outlined in the Information Memorandum (IM).

NCC said that the three telcos will proceed to take part in the next stage of the bidding process. The telcos will participate in the mandatory mock auction process and the main auction.  

“Consequently, the stage is now set for the three companies to participate in the Main Auction as well as in the mandatory Mock Auction process, which will come as a precursor to the Main Auction,” the commission said. 

The commission also reaffirmed dates for the conduct of both auctions. 

The mock auction is scheduled to hold on December 10 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 11:00 a.m, while the main auction will hold December 13 at the same venue and time.

In November, telcos had called on the NCC to reduce the $197.4 million (N75 billion) reserve price set for the planned auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum.

The Cable

In the last one year, 5,238 inmates have escaped from various prisons across Nigeria, according to a PREMIUM TIMES analysis.

There have been 15 incidents of jailbreaks within that period, and eight of those were successful.

The prison break in Jos on Friday is the latest of such jailbreaks. Authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service said eight inmates have been recaptured.

The breakdown of security across the country has led to a surge in frequent prison breaks, kidnapping and banditry.

Here are some of the cases of prison outbreaks in Nigeria in the last one year and the events around them.

Edo

October 19, 2020: The deputy comptroller of correction in charge of Oko Prison, West Amayo, said at 9 a.m., an attempt to break into the jail was repelled. The attack was unsuccessful.

October 21, 2020: Two days after the Oko Prison attack, the Benin Prison located along the Benin-Sapele Road was attacked by hoodlums.

A total of 1,993 inmates escaped from the two facilities.

April 15, 2021: Joint forces from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo Command, and the Nigerian Correctional Service stopped a jailbreak attempt by inmates at a facility at Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area.

October 29, 2021: A fight broke out among inmates at the Benin Medium Security prison on Sapele Road in Benin City, and some of them made efforts to escape, but the intervention of security agencies restored peace to the facility.

Ondo

October 22, 2020: Almost 58 inmates were released from the facility in Okitipupa local government of Ondo State, after thugs broke in. The attackers destroyed properties belonging to the prison and injured staff on the premises.

Lagos

October 22, 2020: An attempt at the Ikoyi facility was foiled by correctional officers and soldiers. During the attack, some prisoners were shot while others tried to breach the gate of the prison.

Abia

October 22, 2020: Another foiled attack occurred at the Afara Umuahia Correctional Centre when a combined team of the Nigerian Army, police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the armed unit of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, repelled an attempted jailbreak.

The security personnel fired shots and tear gas in the air to ward off the hoodlums.

Delta

October 22, 2020 : A warder at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Warri, Delta State, was killed during an attempted jail break by the inmates. The main gate and administrative office of the correctional centre was set on fire in an attempt to facilitate the jailbreak.

Imo

April 4, 2021: Gunmen attacked a correctional centre in Owerri, the state capital, and freed 1,844 prisoners. Officials said in all, 84 inmates were returned to the facility.

Bauchi

April 9, 2021: Two officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Bauchi sustained injuries after a riot at the facility. Five of the inmates were injured in the process, but no inmates were able to escape after the riot.

Kano

April 22, 2021: Security agents foiled an attempted jail break by inmates of Kurmawa Prison located within the Emir’s Palace in Kano.

No casualties occurred but gunshots were fired to scare the residents. The spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kano, Musbahu Lawal, said the attempt was planned by some condemned prisoners.

Kogi

September 13, 2021: Armed men attacked the prison facility in Kabba, Kogi, North-central Nigeria, killing two officials and freeing 240 inmates.

About 114 of the 240 correctional service were recaptured, after the Controller General of the correctional service, Haliru Nababa, gave directives to officers of the service to apprehend the escapees.

Oyo

October 22, 2021: The Abolongo Custodial Centre was attacked and 837 inmates escaped from the facility, but the interior ministry said 262 had been recaptured.

The ministry released the details of the remaining 575 still on the run. It published the photos of prison inmates who escaped from the custodial center.

Jos

July 19, 2021: Four inmates escaped from the Jos Maximum Prison.

November 28, 2021: The most recent jailbreak occurred on Sunday when gunmen stormed the medium security custodial centre, Jos, releasing 262. At least 10 inmates were killed during the encounter and one security personnel also died.

PT

PRESS RELEASE

President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja Wednesday (yesterday) to attend EXPO 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

EXPO 2020 Dubai, with the theme, "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", creates the environment for Nigeria to join over 190 countries to forge true and meaningful partnerships "to build a better future for everyone.”

The Expo will provide another opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to highlight significant strides in the economy in the last six years as a basis for making the country an important destination for foreign direct investment.

Aside touring the Nigerian Pavilion at the Expo on Friday, Nigeria’s National Day, the President will also receive in audience prospective investors as well as meet with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.

On Saturday, Buhari will be the Special Guest of Honour at the special Trade and Investment Forum themed: Unveiling Investment Opportunities in Nigeria. It is put together to mark Nigeria’s presence at the gathering by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

The President will be accompanied by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Defence, Bashir Magashi;  Aviation, Hadi Sirika; and Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar.

Others are: Ministers of Health, Osagie Ehanire; Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Maryam Katagum, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 5, 2021.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

December 1, 2021

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says there will be no sit-at-home protest in the Southeast Thursday (today). 

Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB’s leader, is billed to appear in court today for the continuation of his trial.

Although IPOB had suspended its sit-at-home directive in the Southeast, the proscribed separatist group said the sit-at-home order will only be enforced on the days Kanu will appear in court.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday, Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesperson, said there “will be no lockdown tomorrow in any part of Biafra land” as a result of Kanu’s court appearance.

“We wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that our Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, will be in court tomorrow, December 2, 2021 in Abuja. We, therefore, urge Biafrans living in Abuja and its environs to come out en masse to solidarise with our leader,” the statement reads.

“Meanwhile, there will be no lockdown tomorrow in any part of Biafra land as a result of the court appearance. Biafrans resident in Biafra land, as well as visitors to Biafra land, are free to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation or intimidation.

“We have not asked or authorised anybody to monitor or enforce any lockdown. Again, there will be no lockdown in Biafra land for tomorrow’s court appearance of our Leader. Only Biafrans and friends of Biafra in Abuja and its environs that are encouraged to be at the court premises.”

IPOB also asked supporters of its movement to remain peaceful and law-abiding before and after the trial on Thursday.

The Cable

Nigerian high life and pop singer, Adekunle Gold has revealed the release date for his fourth album titled ‘Catch Me If You Can’.

In a social media post announcing the album, the Afropop star said it will be released on February 4, 2022.

Catch Me If You Can / Feb 4th, 2022 ??‍♂️

Preorder now: https://t.co/JEHHw6tkOj ?

This is coming after Gold spoke about his recent stage performances and forthcoming works in a personalised email to fans in September.

According to the singer, while on his musical tour, he had battled stage freight and low concert turnouts.

“I remember in 2016 the turnout of some of these cities was super low. I remember how some of my performances were lackluster,” Adekunle Gold had said.

“I used to have so much stage fright with shaky vocals while I performed. Some nights on stage I didn’t even know how to engage the crowd if there was any technical issue. so many funny stories from that year.

“But look all that is gone now, it’s all about growing, I’m still growing and AG Baby is in the building. I have had so much fun in different cities, every song I performed went off and the energy has been really crazy.

“You people won’t even let me sing my songs to you, you want to perform at the top of your voices to me. In the middle of this, I have been rounding off my album and working on the film project I told you about last time.”

The singer has released three albums so far, namely: ‘Gold’ (2016), ‘About 30’ (2018), and ‘Afropop’ (2020).

Adekunle Gold gained popularity after putting out ‘Sade’, the 2015 hit single which is a highlife cover of One Direction’s ‘Story of My Life’.

..wants unconditional release for igboho

The Agbekoya Farmers Society of Nigeria, yesterday, decried the high level of hunger, unemployment, and insecurity in the country, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps at alleviating the plight of Nigerians.

Speaking after a meeting of the National Executive Council, the Iwarefa-in Council and members of the society in the Southwest in Ibadan, President of Agbekoya, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola said urged steps should be taken to revive the economy.

Okikiola, who expressed Agbekoya’s displeasure, demanded the unconditional release of Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo fondly called Sunday Igboho who has been in detention in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

He also faulted “the removal of fuel subsidies and increase in fuel price, the establishment of a Security Joint Task Force comprising soldiers, police, Department of State Service, Nigeria Civil Defense Corps and self-determination groups like Agbekoya, OPC, Hunters, and Vigilante to combat insecurity in the Southwest, repair and maintenance of federal, state and rural roads, which have contributed to the high cost of foodstuffs in the markets we demand constitutional roles for our traditional institutions, agricultural revolution, support and protection of farmers on their farms.”

“We are resolved to protect farmers and the entire Yoruba land at all cost. Agbekoya is battle-ready at all times to defend and protect Yoruba land from Fulani criminal herdsmen, bandits and kidnappers. I also want to caution security operatives not to be tribalistic in the way they are handling security issues in any part of the country.”

Vanguard

..Says cases linked to passengers from South Africa

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC on Wednesday morning confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in the country.

This was contained in a press release issued by the centre and signed by the Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa.

The Omicron variant, a new strain of the coronavirus disease, was reported by South Africa and first detected in Botswana.

Following the discovery, countries such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Israel among others placed travel bans on southern African countries.

Similarly, the government of Canada had also stated that it discovered two cases of the variant from two passengers from Nigeria. The Federal Government through the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, however, said that it was investigating the issue to get more details.

However, the NCDC on Wednesday morning said two cases of the variant were discovered through genomic sequencing. It albeit linked the cases to two passengers from South Africa.

The statement reads in part, “In line with the routine travel tests required of all international travellers, genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control through its National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, confirms Nigeria’s first case of the Omicron variant. “Genomic sequencing of positive cases from routine day-two testing for travellers to Nigeria identified two cases of Omicron variant among travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria last week.

“Retrospective sequencing of previously confirmed cases among travellers to Nigeria also identified the Omicron variant among samples collected in October 2021”.

The NCDC however added that the two patients were asymptomatic and contact tracing had begun.

Punch