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Senate Passes Witness Protection Bill For Second Reading

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The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has emphasized that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari must win the war against corruption regardless of momentary setbacks.

After a bill to establish the Witness Protection and Management Framework received second reading in the plenary on Tuesday, Lawan stated this.

The Senate President also stated that the government’s fight against corruption must be pursued aggressively in order to secure the eventual elimination of graft, which has the potential to stymie Nigeria’s growth.

Lawan went on to say that if the Witness Protection Bill is passed and signed into law, it will be an incentive for witnesses to testify in corruption cases since they will be protected by the law.

He said, “Distinguished colleagues, almost every administration in this country would work against corruption that has bedeviled the development of this country. The Witness Protection Bill that we are debating today is a way forward to encourage witnesses to testify against corruption, and protecting them properly, will incentivize such witnesses.

“The war against corruption is a must, and it must be won. It is not about the quantum of funds or resources that we have, but how we are able to put to use even our scarce resources. So, this is a very important bill, and I’m sure all of us would lend our support.”

Sponsor of the ‘Bill for an Act to Establish the Witness Protection and Management Framework,’ Senator Suleiman Kwari, said the bill was first to read on February 23, 2021.

According to Kwari, it was also listed among the bills of interest and international significance contained in the recent executive communication from the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), which was read on the floor of the Senate on the 19th of January 2022.

The lawmaker said, “Empirical evidence shows that one of the major causes of the inability to successfully prosecute criminal cases in our courts is the lack of witnesses. Many of them face intimidation and threats just as prosecutors most times do not have the funds and management framework to safely bring witnesses to testify in court.

“The passage of this bill into law will fill this gap as well as fulfill some of our Country’s international commitments to various conventions and protocols, like the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, amongst others.”

Kwari further recalled that the Witness Protection and Management Bill and Whistle-Blower Bill were initially considered as co-joined in a single bill by the 8th National Assembly and passed in 2017.

He added that following a technical stakeholders roundtable comprising of representatives of relevant criminal justice system operators, it was resolved that both bills be unbundled to allow Law Enforcement Agencies currently running witness protection programs to continue in that wise.

The Senator added, “This necessitates the separation of the two bills and accordingly paves the way for witness protection programs across the broad spectrum of law enforcement agencies, thereby discouraging duplicity and multiplicity of agencies.”

The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; and Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes.

The joint committee is expected to report back in four weeks.

BIG STORY

Mental Health: Obasa Advocates Collective Responsibility, Collaboration With Lawmakers [PHOTOS]

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Given the grimness and prevalence of mental health issues across the country, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has advocated inter-sectoral collaboration with the assembly and collective responsibility by agencies, individuals, and institutions.

Speaking in his capacity as chairman at the Seventh Public Lecture of the Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), held Tuesday, July 2, 2025, at the Festival Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, Obasa described the theme, Mental Health: A Basic Human Right Crucial to Personal, Community, and Socio-Economic Development, as timely and globally relevant.

He opined, “We live in times where the mental health of individuals is increasingly becoming a matter of public concern because globally, there is a rising incidence of mental health disorders, and unfortunately, Nigeria is not exempted.”

The Lagos Speaker reckoned that mental health is crucial to personal and community development because, “It is the bedrock upon which personal growth and achievements are built. For our nation to thrive, we need citizens who are mentally sound and can contribute meaningfully to national development.

“Socio-economic development is intertwined with mental health. A nation with a high burden of mental health disorders will undoubtedly suffer a decline in productivity, a decrease in the quality of life, and a strain on health resources.”

Conversely, he said that a community with a high prevalence of mental health disorders is not only destabilised but also lacks progress. Therefore, he continued, “It is important that we take collective responsibility to ensure that our communities are mentally healthy. As a nation, we must pay keen attention to mental health and integrate it into our public health policies.”

Obasa recalled that the issue of mental health is very dear to him, which encouraged the enactment of the Lagos State Mental Health Service Law of 2018 during his first term as Speaker. The law provides for the protection and care of individuals with mental health conditions and substance abuse, stresses the rights of patients, including the right to treatment close to their domicile, and the same rights as physically ill persons. It also focuses on integrating mental health services into primary healthcare, providing comprehensive coverage, and fostering intersectoral collaboration.

However, Obasa noted that professional bodies like the PSN are not collaborating enough with lawmakers to drive change. “We must advocate for policies that promote mental health care, combat stigma, and support initiatives to enhance mental well-being. Together, we can ensure that mental health is recognized as a basic human right essential to personal, community, and socio-economic development,” he concluded.

Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and special guest of honour, linked the rise in mental health issues to fake drugs and substance abuse. He described mental health as a neglected aspect of public health and called for increased awareness and sensitisation programs by the PSN.

In his address, Pharm. Uche Akpakama, chairman, Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, said, “It is documented that more than a quarter of the Nigerian population has mental health issues, exacerbated by the current socio-economic situations, including extreme poverty, internal displacement, insecurity, and unemployment.” Akpakama said he hoped that the public lecture would address the current state of mental health in Nigeria, the role of pharmacists, other health professionals, and proffer strategies for promoting mental health awareness.

The keynote speaker, Dr Gbonjubola Abiri, a Consultant Psychiatrist and CEO of Redi-Med Consulting, a medical consultancy firm, said having established the grimness of the situation, “the drive now is to ensure mental health promotion and the prevention of mental health disorders in the general population, while also ensuring that persons with mental disorders are given the best attention to manage their health so that they can live their best lives despite their conditions.”

Pharm. Gbenga Falabi, chairman of the planning committee, declared that the annual lecture serves as a platform for knowledge-sharing and developing strategies to promote mental health awareness. “Today’s insights will enhance our understanding of mental health’s critical role in personal, community, and socio-economic development,” he said.

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu Receives 60th Birthday Special Publication From Lanre Alfred At Lagos House [PHOTOS]

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It was all praise and admiration as celebrated author and media consultant, Lanre Alfred, formally presented his newly published special publication on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, titled “The Man Who Carried a City”, at a modest but poignant gathering held at the Lagos House, Marina, today.

The gathering, witnessed by a select group of the Governor’s cabinet members and close aides, marked a symbolic celebration of Sanwo-Olu’s 60th birthday on June 25, 2025. Present to honour the occasion was also Wale Olaleye, Deputy Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, who penned the foreword of the book, and Kayode Olashile-Alfred, THISDAY columnist and a media and hospitality entrepreneur.

A visibly delighted Governor Sanwo-Olu received the commemorative volume with joy and deep gratitude, expressing astonishment at the richness of the work and the devotion behind it. “I am genuinely impressed by the quality of this book,” he remarked, commending Alfred’s bold initiative, which was undertaken without any financial or material incentive. “It is rare to see this level of literary commitment that is driven purely by admiration and civic appreciation.”

Alfred, renowned for his lyrical prose and insightful portraits of Nigeria’s high achievers, revealed that he embarked on the book project 18 months ago, moved by a deep admiration for Governor Sanwo-Olu’s revolutionary governance and resilient leadership, particularly during moments of turbulence.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s journey is not just a political story, it is a deeply human one,” Alfred said during the presentation. “This is a man who steered Lagos through the chaos of COVID-19, the trauma of #EndSARS, and the daily complexities of managing Africa’s largest subnational economy, without losing the human touch.”

He described the special publication as a literary monument to a governor who has governed with empathy, deliberateness, and vision. “I wanted to ensure that such a legacy is preserved beyond fleeting headlines or public memory. ‘The Man Who Carried a City’ is not a tribute to power, but to purpose. It is an archive of grace under pressure, of governance without theatrics, of leadership defined by listening rather than loudness.”

In his remarks, Wale Olaleye described the book’s narrative as “probing and profound,” noting that Alfred’s portrait of Sanwo-Olu goes beyond celebration. “It is also a mirror,” he said, “a reminder of what true public service can look like in our time.”

Kayode Olashile-Alfred, who has followed Alfred’s literary career closely, lauded the work as “a powerful addition to the canon of modern Nigerian political special publication,” adding that “Dr Alfred has succeeded in blending scholarship, poetry, and reportage into a narrative that preserves not just a man’s record, but his essence.”

“The Man Who Carried a City” is published by Old English Partners and spans over 326 glossy pages richly adorned with evocative photography and meditative prose. From Sanwo-Olu’s formative years and quiet rise through public service, to his tumultuous yet steady-handed tenure as governor, the book distils a lifetime of service into a series of vivid, emotionally intelligent portraits.

The book’s evocative chapters—“The Clockmaker’s Spawn,” “Lagos in His Lungs,” “The Politics of Listening,” “2020… The Year Lagos Trembled,” and “Legacy as a Living Covenant” trace policy achievements and the philosophical, emotional scaffolding of Sanwo-Olu’s public life. A chapter titled “Ibijoke” presents the First Lady’s quiet strength as a stabilising pillar in the governor’s journey.

Alfred noted that in an era where political narratives are often distorted or forgotten, he considers it a duty to document leaders who have served meaningfully. “Nigeria’s problem is not the absence of worthy leaders,” he said, “it is our failure to preserve their stories. Sanwo-Olu’s calm through crisis, his civic fidelity, and his silent sacrifices deserve a place in our national archives.”

The Man Who Carried a City is both a birthday gift and a civic reflection; a reminder that in turbulent times, quiet courage and steadfast service still matter.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Opposition Coalition Leaders Arrive For ADC Unveiling

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Leaders from different opposition parties are converging at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja for a press briefing organised by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Those already present include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP); Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor; and Dino Melaye, a former senator.

Also in attendance are Solomon Dalung, former minister of youth and sports; media figure Dele Momodu; ex-senator Gabriel Suswam; and Ireti Kingibe, a current LP senator.

Others present include Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governor of Rivers; and Emeka Ihedioha, former deputy speaker of the house of representatives.

The event has drawn participation from members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the LP.

Former Senate President David Mark led other coalition members into the hall as the programme began.

Also in attendance are Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun governor and interim national chairman of the ADC; and Aminu Tambuwal, ex-governor of Sokoto.

Earlier in the day, the ADC coalition unveiling faced a disruption after the original venue cancelled the booking at the last minute.

The event was initially planned for the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja.

Just hours before the scheduled time, organisers were notified that the hotel would not proceed with hosting the event.

A screenshot of the hotel’s notice, shared by Momodu on Instagram, cited an “internal compliance matter” as the reason for the cancellation.

Following the development, the coalition secured the Yar’Adua Centre as an alternative venue.

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