Dons EzeDSS RELEASES AJAERO’S PASSPORT
DSS RELEASES AJAERO’S PASSPORT The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the passport of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero. Some labour leaders, who confided in our correspondent on Tuesday in Abuja, said the secret police did not find anything incriminating against Ajaero. The DSS bowed to pressure from various quarters on Monday when it released the labour leader on bail a few minutes to the ultimatum given by the NLC.
WHY DSS INVADED SERAP OFFICE
WHY DSS INVADED SERAP OFFICE Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday raided the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Abuja to grill its directors over the 48-hour ultimatum given to President Bola Tinubu’s government, SaharaReporters can report. The organisation had given Tinubu’s government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the alarming and outrageous price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol and probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. In response to the ultimatum, widely reported on Sunday, the DSS invaded SERAP’s Abuja office the following day – Monday – demanding to see its directors. However, sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that Tinubu’s government sent the secret police after SERAP because of the ultimatum. According to the sources, clearly, the government was not comfortable with the human rights organisation’s demand and threats of legal action against the government. It was learnt that considering a series of legal actions SERAP has taken against Tinubu’s government, the ultimatum and threat of a legal action over the hike in the price of petrol was seen as a plot to incite the public to rise against Tinubu’s government. SERAP had in an open letter dated September 7, 2024 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, gave President Tinubu 48 hours to reverse the recently increased fuel pump price or face legal action. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets. But SERAP urged President Tinubu to use his “leadership position and good offices to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets”. “SERAP office was invaded because of the 48-hour ultimatum it gave to Tinubu’s government to reverse fuel price increase and probe NNPC Limited,” one of the sources said. In its letter, SERAP urged the President to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies “to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury.” The organisation said, “Suspected perpetrators of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered.” According to SERAP, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations. “Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.” SERAP said “Rather than pursuing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country, and holding the NNPC to account for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government seems to be punishing the poor. “The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival. “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” it said. On Monday, SERAP announced that some DSS officers had stormed its Abuja office, demanding to see its directors. In a statement…
LP CRISIS: PETER OBI, ALEX OTTI ASK INEC TO RECOGNIZE NENADI-LED CARETAKER COMMITTEE
LP CRISIS; PETER OBI, ALEX OTTI ASK INEC TO RECOGNIZE NENADI-LED CARETAKER COMMITTEE The leaders of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti, have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying the commission of the appointment of 29-member Caretaker Committee for the party led by Nenadi Usman. The letter said the stakeholders meeting was held in line with an agreement reached between the party and INEC in 2022. It also stated that the leadership crisis currently wrecking the party led to the appointment of the Caretaker Committee. The letter signed by the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Obi and Abia State Governor, Otti on behalf of other stakeholders told the Commission the 29 members committee would within the timeframe of 180 days organize congresses and national conventions for the party It read in part: “You will recall that Labour Party had had a leadership crisis in recent times culminating in the de-recognition of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) by INEC effective June 2024. “Given the above scenario, the statutory executives of the party made up of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and legislators in addition to all surviving members of NEC, the leadership of organised labour, representatives of Governorship Candidates in the 2023 election and subsequent ones, Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates in the 2023 election and other party leaders met in Umuahia, Abia State on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 and set up a Caretaker Committee to organise congresses and the national convention within a period not exceeding 180 days to fill the vacuum created by the expiration of the tenure of the erstwhile leadership of the party at all levels.”
ABACHA SPIRIT HAS TAKEN OVER PRESIDENTIAL VILLA – LAWYER
ABACHA’S SPIRIT HAS TAKEN OVER PRESIDENTIAL VILLA – LAWYER In an apparent rebuke of Monday’s invasion of SERAP’s office, Abuja, by Nigeria’s secret police, SSS, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has said that the spirit of the late military dictator, Sani Abacha, has taken over the nation’s presidential villa. The officers were “unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors,” SERAP wrote on X. “The spirit of Sani Abacha has taken over the presidential villa,” Mr Effiong wrote on X on Monday in his reaction to the SSS’ action. “The invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office by the SSS is unacceptable. The President Tinubu’s regime must end the attack on dissent,” he said in another post on the microblogging platform. SERAP is a prominent civil society group in Nigeria known for its campaigns for good governance and respect for human rights. The invasion of SERAP’s office, almost simultaneously with the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, by SSS operatives on Monday morning in Abuja at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja while trying to board a flight to the UK for a Trade Union Congress gathering. Ajaero has been summoned twice by the police in recent weeks over allegations surrounding a Briton, Drew Povey, who owns a bookshop at the NLC headquarters in Abuja. The Nigerian government claims that the Briton was spearheading a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. He has denied the allegation and urged the government not to criminalise peaceful protests in Nigeria. The lawyer, Mr Effiong’s comment about Abacha’s spirit taking over the presidential villa is an allusion to President Tinubu as a dictator. The late Abacha, an army general, overthrew Nigeria’s interim national government in 1993 and ran the most repressive regime in the nation’s history, suppressing the media and jailing his critics. During the infamous era, Moshood Abiola, the winner of the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election, was jailed for treason. He later died in custody. Former military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo was also jailed for treason. The Abacha regime also jailed a former army general, Shehu Yar’Adua, who later died in custody. Amnesty International Nigeria on Monday “strongly condemned” Mr Ajaero’s arrest. “The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released,” the rights group said.
DSS INTERROGATED ME ON ALLEGED TERRORISM FINANCING INVOLVING BRITISH NATIONAL – AJAERO REVEALS WHY HE WAS ARRESTED
DSS INTERROGATED ME ON ALLEGED TERRORISM FINANCING INVOLVING BRITISH NATIONAL – AJAERO REVEALS WHY HE WAS ARRESTED The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has revealed details of his arrest and questioning following his release by the Department of State Services (DSS) after a 15-hour detention. It can be recalled that Ajaero was arrested on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja just as he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event. Sharing the experience in a recent interview, Ajaero said he was interrogated about an alleged terrorism financing involving a British national, Andrew Wynne. During his detention at the DSS office in Abuja, Ajaero revealed that he was not only questioned by DSS operatives but also interrogated by police officers. The police officers grilled him over his involvement in the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests that took place in August. Ajaero’s detention led to criticism from labour unions, human rights groups, and civil society organizations. It can also be recalled that the NLC condemned the arrest and gave the DSS a Tuesday midnight deadline to release Ajaero, threatening to mobilize its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies to take action if he was not freed.
POLICE IGNORED OUR PETITION ON AJAERO FOR OVER ONE YEAR BUT STARTED ACTING AFTER THE PETITION WAS WITHDRAWN – AIR PEACE
POLICE IGNORED OUR PETITION ON AJAERO FOR OVER ONE YEAR BUT STARTED ACTING AFTER THE PETITION WAS WITHDRAWN – AIR PEACE Air Peace has clarified its position regarding the recent arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), denying its alleged involvement in Ajaero’s arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS). Ajaero was arrested on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the DSS as he was en route to the United Kingdom for an official assignment. In a statement by airline spokesperson Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace addressed media reports suggesting that Ajaero’s arrest was related to a petition filed by the airline. The statement noted that such reports had unfairly tarnished the airline’s reputation. Makinwa explained that the airline had filed a petition over a year ago concerning an incident on May 3, 2023, when the NLC disrupted Air Peace’s operations amid a broader conflict with the Imo State Government. Although Air Peace was not involved in the dispute, the disruption led to significant financial losses and inconvenienced many travelers. The statement continued, “Air Peace expresses concern over the recent media portrayal linking the NLC president’s arrest to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023. “This situation does not accurately represent the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC. “It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On May 3,, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State Government. “Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State Government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government. This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states. “In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the police failed to take prompt action.” However, the airline added that “over a year later, the Nigerian Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president.” Makinwa said, “Before this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship to resume between the two organisations.”
WE KNOW SPONSORS OF #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTEST – PDP
WE KNOW SPONSORS OF #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTEST – PDP The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disclosed that they know the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protests that rocked the country in August. Some Nigerians and groups took to the streets in many cities between August 1 and 10 to protest against the prevailing hardship in the country. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, while noting that hunger was the sponsor of the protest, urged the federal government to arrest hunger and not Nigerians. Ologunagba was speaking on the backdrop of arrest of the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajearo. The PDP Spokesman said: “There is need for caution. There was a protest in this country, the government did not do anything. You arrest some people and said they were terrorists and you charge them to court. You say some people were the sponsors of the protest. “We know those who sponsored the protest. The sponsor is hunger. The President and his people should arrest hunger and there will be no problem. Let your policies that are draconian, that are bringing people to their knees. This is the season schools are resuming, we know what people are going through.”
APC POSTPONES NATIONAL CAUCUS MEETING INDEFINITELY
APC POSTPONES NATIONAL CAUCUS MEETING INDEFINITELY The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed indefinitely its scheduled National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings slated for Wednesday and Thursday, September 11 and 12, respectively. APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who announced the development in terse statement on Monday night, said new dates for the meetings will be communicated in due course. The statement read: “Members of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are hereby informed that the National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings scheduled to be held on September 11 and 12, 2024, respectively, have been postponed. “New dates for the meetings will be communicated in due course.”
NULGE CHAIRMAN SLUMPS DIES WHILE WAITING TO BUY FUEL
NULGE CHAIRMAN SLUMPS, DIES WHILE WAITING TO BUY FUEL The persistent fuel scarcity in the country has claimed another casualty as the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) chairman in Akure South local government of Ondo State, Oluwatuyi Olasoji died few days after collapsing while waiting to buy the Premium Motor Spirit. According to a local tabloid in the state, Sunshine Truth, the deceased slumped last week while trying to buy fuel at a filling station in the state capital and was rushed to the Federal Medical Center in Owo. He was said to have undergone a surgery and given up to the ghost on Monday. Petrol scarcity has recently hit the country as motorists continued to lament. Long queues at filling stations have worsened traffic conditions, with many people stranded at bus stops due to doubled transport fares. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had claimed that the current fuel scarcity was expected to “subside in a few days as more stations recalibrate and begin selling PMS.” According to the NNPCL, “The market has been deregulated, meaning that petrol prices are now determined by market forces rather than by the government or NNPC Ltd. Additionally, the exchange rate plays a significant role in influencing these prices.” On the commencement of lifting PMS from the Dangote Refinery, it said that it was awaiting the September 15th timeline provided by the Refinery.
DANGOTE A BUSINESSMAN, NOT FATHER CHRISTMAS – SHEHU SANI
DANGOTE A BUSINESSMAN, NOT FATHER CHRISTMAS – SHEHU SANI Former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani has advised Nigerians not to expect Dangote refinery to be their ‘father Christmas’ for petrol. The statement comes after the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, said the pricing of petroleum products from any refinery, including the Dangote Refinery, is determined by global market forces. Sani, in a post on his handle on Sunday, stated that Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group is a businessman who is in business and not for social services or fuel charity. He explained that the NNPCL still holds the ace for the stability and the future of Nigeria’s energy sector. “Dangote is a businessman who is in business and not for social services or fuel charity. “Don’t expect him to be your ‘Father Christmas’ for petrol. grin “NNPCL still holds the ace for the stability and the future of Nigeria’s energy sector. “I must caution you against the anxiety of waiting for manna from Aliko,” he wrote. cheesy