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Residents of Idi- Oro , Mushin , have accused operatives of the Lagos State Police Command of invading 14 streets and vandalising no fewer than 200 vehicles. However , the police command denied the allegations , saying hoodlums resisting police arrest damaged the vehicles with stones. But residents who spoke to Punch on Thursday alleged that the operatives aside from damaging vehicles parked by the roadsides , also entered into mechanic workshops and destroyed the cars they found there. At least 40 generators belonging to residents were allegedly taken away by the policemen, whom residents claimed wanted to avenge the death of a police sergeant, Abam Mohammed, who was killed during a shootout with drug dealers.

Punch had reported that a drug dealer had taken delivery of hemp valued at N 7 m on Monday. On Tuesday , a police team from the Area D Command , acting on intelligence , stormed the community and recovered the hemp .Hoodlums and some residents allegedly attacked the policemen with broken bottles and stones, as the operatives retreated and returned with reinforcements . In a shootout that ensued between the two sides , the police sergeant and three others were killed .On Wednesday , some residents alleged that policemen invaded their streets , looted property and damaged their vehicles. The affected streets , according to them , are Alhaji, Ogunmokun , Awoyejo, Umoru , Elegba, Alhaji Lasisi , Smith , Amodu , Ibrahim, Akala , Ojo , Anuoluwapo , Opeloyeru and Adegbite .When Punch correspondent visited the area on Thursday , the residents lamented their loss .A trader on Alhaji Lasisi Street , Kike Ajiboye , who sold drinks , said her car was vandalised and three coolers of drinks emptied.

She said , “My car is my moble shop . I use it to sell drinks at parties . The policemen, who were in uniforms , came in around 7 .30 pm on Wednesday . There were many trucks . I was surprised when they started breaking windscreens . They vandalised my car and took all the wines in three coolers . After they emptied my coolers , they punctured the four tryes. The money I made that day , which was in the car , was stolen .“ I took my goods on credit from LAPO (microfinance bank ). How do I pay back over N 100 , 000 ? There is an armoured tank and a police patrol van at the junction and I thought that would guarantee our safety . They threw bottles at us because they knew we were watching from inside .”Another trader , Mrs Adebisi Adetula , alleged that the cops damaged her Ford car and ruined her family business.

She said , “ We could not come out . My Ford car that was destroyed was my family’s means of livelihood. My son, who graduated four years ago , uses it to supply gas in the neighbourhood . Now , what will he use ?”A transport worker, Taofik Ojedele , whose bus was vandalised , claimed that he saw the policemen with knives with which they punctured vehicle tyres .A food seller on Elegba Street , Jelila Kareem , showed Punch correspondent her store , which she alleged was razed by the cops.“ As we were trying to put out the fire , they chased us away with guns. Everything was burnt ,” she added . A mechanic , Semiu Jimoh, said seven vehicles , including Lexus, Mitsubishi , Kia , Toyota Corolla , Toyota RAV 4 , belonging to his customers , were vandalised .Jimoh, who said he was initially arrested by the policemen, alleged that they broke into a workshop where he kept some of the cars and damaged them.

“ They were more than 200 . They were broke into houses and took property . They came to my house and arrested me as well . They broke the fence of my workshop and damaged the four cars there . I don ’ t know what to tell the owners of the cars . I am in serious debt,” he added . He said many residents took away their cars because the policemen threatened to return . A trader on Amodu Street , Bintu Rosulu , alleged that her noodles shop was burgled , saying drinks and phones were taken away . An 80 – year – old woman , Alhaja Rabiu Titilayo , said her house door was broken down by the policemen around 9 pm . “When they came in, I told them not to take away my grandchildren who were taking care of me . They asked me to sit down . They collected my torchlight and some phones in the house. One of the children they arrested was released after we paid N 8 ,000 ,” she added .Some other residents on Amodu Street claimed that the policemen broke the doors and carted away bags of rice and money they made from sales. “They took away my bag of rice , ” a housewife, Shakirat Abdulsalam, said.

A woman who had a provision store on Anuoluwapo Street , Mrs . Raheem Mariam , said the policemen took bottles of drink in the three freezers in the shop . A home video shop beside her , owned by her son, was reportedly vandalised as well . “They took toothpastes , canned fish , eggs and drinks . They opened the video shop with an axe and took phones and power banks,” she said .A landlord on the street , Folorunsho Oladele , who claimed to be ill, said the operatives hit him with the butts of their guns. They were saying, ‘ Na you kill police .’ There were three of them . They beat me up and collected the N 25 , 000 I wanted to use for a surgical operation . They spent about two hours on the street ,” he added . The head of a branch of the Christ Apostolic Church in the area, Pastor Joshua Oluwagbemi, said a service was on in the church when the operatives stormed the street. He said he ended the service and was left with a few members .

He said , “The policemen came in and asked what we were doing . I told them we were in a church . They shouted at me to close the door. Suddenly , they started shooting outside . They turned off my generator . Next, they smashed the windscreens of vehicles on the whole street . They didn ’t take anything from my car . They only damaged the windscreen and side glasses. ”A food seller , Mrs . Akiyode Iyabo , said the policemen took away seven phones from the shop , adding that all the money made from the day ’s sales was taken. “My brother was about to turn off the generator when they held him. They beat him to a pulp and took all the phones in the canteen . Aside from the money we realised from sales that they took , they collected about N 70 ,000 meant for a daily contribution . The policemen were in uniform and were heavily armed, ” she said .A resident , Oluwadamilare Adele , said a car he bought in December was damaged. Two other traders said pieces of meat and bottles of wine were taken from their shops by the cops. It was learnt that a resident was shot and was taken away by the policemen.A man claimed that his wife, Taiye Amodu , was arrested in the house, while a mechanic , Taiwo Hassan , was arrested shortly after he returned from work.

Our correspondent also saw a bet shop and a barber ’s that were vandalised.The cops allegedly entered into the adjoining shop of the bet centre by breaking the wall . A resident said , “ More than 200 vehicles were vandalised on the streets . Many people have taken away their cars because the policemen said they were coming back.” The state Police Public Relations Officer , SP Chike Oti, said the police raided the community on Wednesday and arrested 255 suspects. He said hoodlums , while resisting arrest and throwing stones at the police team , broke the windscreens .He said , “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi , on Thursday paraded the 255 suspects arrested during the raid on Akala – Mushin and Idi- Oro areas of Lagos State. “The raid on criminal hideouts in these areas became pertinent because of the brazen nature criminals living among the people attack residents and law enforcement officers. “Sequel to this , the CP ordered a raid on identified criminal enclaves in Akala – Mushin and Idi – Oro . During the raid , the criminal elements resisted the police by hurling stones and different types of missiles at them , breaking windscreens of some vehicles parked by the roadside.

“This did not deter the police from arresting 255 suspects , comprising 246 males and nine females , and seizing 39 big bags of weed , suspected to be Indian hemp , and recovering two pump- action rifles and ammunition. “The CP vowed that the command would not rest until drug peddlers , cult members and armed criminals are rid from the streets of Lagos . The command advises parents , guardians and stakeholders to warn their children and wards to stay off criminal enclaves and avoid mingling with criminals . The CP added that the raid would continue in all places identified by police intelligence unit as black spots .”He said investigation into the case had been concluded and all the suspects had been charged to court .

BIG STORY

Detained Binance Executive Gambaryan Drags EFCC, NSA To Court

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Tigran Gambaryan, the CEO of Binance who is currently in detention, has claimed that he has been violated in his fundamental human rights by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.

Gambaryan, in an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution.

He urged the court to order the NSA and the EFCC to release him from their custody and return his international travel passport with immediate effect.

Gambaryan also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance.

He also urged the court to order the respondents to issue a public apology to him.

Gambaryan averred that he was in Nigeria alongside fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.

Anjarwalla escaped from the guest house where he and Gambaryan were being held

He argued that he had not committed any offence during the meeting, and neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time.

“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he added.

The fleeing Anjarwalla also filed a similar suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24.

At the proceedings on Thursday, T.J. Krukrubo (SAN) appeared for the plaintiffs, while the respondents had no representation.

Krukrubo informed the court that the respondents were served two days ago.

Shortly after that, he announced to the court that he was withdrawing from the matter as counsel for the fleeing Anjarwalla.

He did not give reasons for his withdrawal.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the matter till April 8.

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President Tinubu’s 50-Member Emergency Teams Get Six Months To Fix Economy

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Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday established a 31-man Presidential Economic Coordination Council comprising himself, the Vice President, Senate President and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, among others.

A 19-member Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce was also formed by Tinubu, who gave them instructions to convene twice a week and produce a detailed six-month plan of economic interventions by 2024.

The Federal Executive Council gave its approval to the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce on Monday.

The President ordered that the six-month plan be put into action right away, within two weeks of the EET’s inauguration.

The EET comprises ministers, four governors and some members of the economic management team as well as the private sector.

The EET is to report to the Presidential Economic Coordination Council headed by Tinubu.

The PECC comprises 13 ministers, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Yemi Cardoso, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, among others.

The council also includes 13 persons drawn from the organised private sector including Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; UBA Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu; BUA Founder, Abdulsamad Rabiu, among others. The members of the organised private sector would serve on the council for a one-year tenure.

Tuesday’s move is “in furtherance of his administration’s efforts at re-engineering the nation’s economic governance framework,” the Presidency said in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu establishes comprehensive economic coordination and planning system for Nigeria.’

It comes weeks after the President created an economic advisory committee comprising the federal government, sub-nationals and the private sector, on February 25.

Upon assuming office 10 months ago, the Tinubu administration discontinued subsidies on petrol, which, he said, would save the government monies for infrastructural expansion.

He also unified the foreign exchange rates to curb currency arbitrage.

However, these moves sparked major instability in the value of the naira and heaped hardship on Nigerians as food prices soared.

In February 2024, N1,900 was exchanged for one USD in the black market.

The naira has recently seen a steady climb against the US dollar, exchanging N1,300/$ at the official market on Wednesday.

Ngelale who announced the economy-focused initiatives said the setting up of the PECC and the EET was a strategic move to ensure robust and coordinated economic planning and implementation to tackle the challenges head-on.

Members of the PECC include President Tinubu as Chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima as Vice-Chairman; President of the Nigerian Senate; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum; Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security; Aviation and Aerospace Development and Budget and Economic Planning.

Others include Ministers of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Industry, Trade and Investment; Labour and Employment; Marine and Blue Economy; Power; State, Petroleum Resources; State, Gas; Ministers of Transportation and Works.

Other members representing the organised private sector include Ms. Amina Maina, Mr. Begun Ajayi-Kadir, Mrs. Funke Okpeke and Dr. Doyin Salami, Mr. Patrick Okigbo, Mr. Kola Adesina, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Mr. Chidi Ajaere, Mr. Abdulkadir Aliu and Mr. Rasheed Sarumi.

Tinubu mandated the EET to formulate and implement a consolidated emergency economic plan in “furtherance of the President’s collaborative approach toward achieving economic resilience and growth.”

Members include the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance who serves as Chairman, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Minister of Power, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Others are the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, National Security Adviser, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor of Anambra State, and Governor of Ogun State.

The Governor of Niger State, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, GCEO, NNPC Limited, Director-General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Economists, Dr. Bismarck Rewane and Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa are also members.

On the operations of the EET, the Presidency said “Over the next six months, the EET will focus on the rapid implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of critical initiatives, strengthening the Tinubu-led administration’s collective approach to advancing Nigeria’s economic objectives.”

It also revealed that the Economic Management Team, established in October 2023, and chaired by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, would serve as the working group under the PECC, “playing a crucial role in the economic governance structure established by the president.”

Consequently, the Economic Management Team, which traditionally meets monthly or as required, will suspend all meetings for the duration of the EET’s six-month mandate.

The EMT comprises the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, who served as its Chairman, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Minister of Works, and Minister of Labour and Employment.

Other members are Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Minister of State, Gas, Minister of Power, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

The Presidential Spokesman, Ngelale, noted that, “The Chairman of the EMT may, as needed, call on any Federal Minister or Head of Agency to brief the EMT on key programmes and developments affecting the economy.”

He noted that the President’s formation of the PECC, under his Chairmanship, alongside the creation of the EET, led by the Chairman of the EMT, and the EMT itself, manifests a unified strategy aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s economic management architecture for verifiably improved performance.

“The formation of these teams will complement existing economic governance structures, including the National Economic Council , which is chaired by the Vice-President,” the statement read.

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Comedy Duo’s #MakeWeHalla Video Catalyzes Conversations on Domestic Violence in Nigeria

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In a nation where the discussion on domestic violence often remains shrouded in silence, two power actors have ignited a powerful movement that is resonating deeply across Nigeria.

Charles Inojie and Ali Nuhu, through their viral video titled #MakeWeHalla, have initiated a much-needed conversation on the pressing issue of domestic violence.

The video features the two talented actors in a humorous yet thought-provoking short video, emphasising the importance of speaking out against domestic violence.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C43iD60Nh7e/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

 

With their trademark wit and charm, Inojie and Nuhu delivered a compelling message; when Nigerians witness domestic violence, they must make noise, they must ‘halla’.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5BEb4wMq5h/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

The video is capturing the attention of viewers across various demographics, sparking discussions on online platforms.

Among many Nigerians who have been inspired by the video is a fast-rising actor and social media influencer, Joseph Momodu.

He wrote, “Yesoooo Oga Charles. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Domestic violence is not good and the more reason to really Halla!!”

A popular Nigerian film director and social media personality, Falalu Abubakar Dorayi, also known as Falalu A. Dorayi, added his voice against sitting on the fence while witnessing incidents of domestic violence. To him, “Women abuse is a bad behavior. Silence, when we see people doing (it), is like giving a chance to continue. It’s true, everywhere we see signs of “abuse” happening. Let’s expose the secrets. #MakeWeHalla.”

“This is powerful. We must halla! Like I always say, to fix this nation, you must fix yourself first. You are a part of the nation; once you fix you, you have fixed the nation. This is applicable to a community where domestic violence thrives,” Lanre Adediwura, an award-winning actor and online personality, opined.

A Nigerian actress and online celebrity, Kiitan Bukola, said that Nigerians can’t continue to sit on the fence in the face of domestic violence. “We must halla; we can’t continue to ignore. let’s kick against domestic violence… ,“ she wrote.

The success of #MakeWeHalla by encouraging individuals to speak up, is empowering communities to break the cycle of silence and stigma.

Inojie and Nuhu’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as their initiative has garnered widespread praise and support from both fans and advocacy groups alike.

Monsurah Hamza with handle @ayotibami0 wrote, “Kudos to Charles Inojie and Ali Nuhu for sensitizing Nigerians on domestic violence #MakeWeHalla.”

Elated social media user @oladebuofficial stated, “How do I like this video 1 million times cos Bravo. Thank you for this… #MakeWeHalla.”

Bammy_ay wrote, “We really need more of this kind of video to educate people on domestic violence. Do not die in silence! #MakeWeHalla.”

@ekumastanleyifeanyi3 simply commented, “Say no to domestic violence.”

Through their creativity and dedication, Inojie and Nuhu have leveraged their platform to shine a spotlight on a critical issue that often remains hidden in the shadows.

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