Author: user user

A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam was on Thursday remanded in Kuje prison after he was arraigned for joining and supporting proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

In the four-count charge, DSS alleged that Ezeakolam joined IPOB, posted messages in support of the proscribed organization and was involved in acts capable of inducing unsuspecting members of the public to join the proscribed terrorist organization.

DSS said the action of the retired officer was contrary to and punishable under Sections 13, 25, 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

However, Ezeakolam pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the four counts when they were read to him.

Subsequently, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand him in custody pending trial.

Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter to October 29 for commencement of trial.

He also ordered remand of Ezeakolam at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of the trial.

Count One read:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly and indirectly render support by providing moral assistance and disseminating terrorist information of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB, a proscribed organization, through the internet and your social media platforms, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Two:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Three:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly directly and indirectly aid and abet the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by posting on social media platforms messages calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Four:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on social media platforms did post and cause to be accessed, messages aimed at advancing the cause of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.

The Indian government has asked Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to apologise after a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi was removed from Facebook and Instagram.

The video showed Modi speaking to students during youth-led protests on July 23. It was briefly taken down from Meta’s platforms before it was later restored.

A parliamentary committee led by lawmaker Nishikant Dubey described the removal of the video as an attack on democracy. The committee said it was unacceptable for a video of the leader of a country with more than 1.4 billion people to be removed.

The committee demanded that Meta identify those responsible for the incident and that Zuckerberg apologise within three days.

It warned that if the company fails to do so, India could withdraw Meta’s ‘safe harbour’ protection.

This legal protection shields social media companies from being held directly responsible for content posted by users.

Dubey said the committee had already contacted India’s Ministry of Information Technology and Ministry of Home Affairs.

He argued that by removing the Prime Minister’s video, Meta acted like a publisher instead of a neutral platform. According to him, losing its safe harbour protection could expose Meta and its executives to legal action across India.

Meta later restored the video and apologised, saying the removal happened because of a technical glitch.

However, India’s Information Technology Ministry rejected the explanation, saying it was not good enough.

The ministry said Meta, as one of the world’s biggest technology companies, must improve its automated systems to prevent such mistakes from happening again.

Elder statesman and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George, has responded to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s description of him as the ‘father of corruption’, accusing the minister of crossing the line and saying he needs urgent medical attention.

George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, made the statement while reacting to Wike’s allegation that his Abuja residence was acquired with funds belonging to Rivers State.

The PDP chieftain dismissed the claim as false, insisting that he bought the property from a private owner through an agent.

‘My house in Abuja was bought with funds from Rivers? How? The house was built by someone else. I bought it, and it is still there,’ George said.

He said he would institute legal action against Wike over the allegation, describing the claim as unacceptable.

George said it was beneath his dignity to engage the FCT minister in a public exchange, describing Wike as immature compared with his age and political experience.

He also accused Wike of making reckless statements and alleged that the minister spends millions of naira weekly on media coverage, though the claim could not be independently verified.

The elder statesman urged President Bola Tinubu to distance himself from what he described as ‘attack dogs’, saying the President did not need individuals who insult political opponents and senior citizens.

On the crisis within the PDP, George said the party’s internal problems remained unresolved despite the emergence of a presidential candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that the matter was still before the courts.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it would deploy adequate personnel across Osun state to monitor and curb incidents of vote selling and buying during the August 15 governorship election.

ICPC said this while warning against vote buying and selling ahead of the Aug. 15 Osun governorship election at a rally held in Osogbo on Thursday.

The rally had as its theme: ‘My Vote, My Future: Reject Vote Buying, Protect Democracy.’

The commission said anyone caught engaging in the act would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Speaking during the rally, ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner in Osun, Mr Yusuf Olatunji said the commission would deploy adequate personnel across the 30 local government areas of the state to monitor and curb the practice.

He urged the electorate to recognise the value of their votes and resist any attempt to trade them for temporary gains.

‘To every voter in Osun, I urge you to reject any attempt to influence your choice through cash, gifts, food items, or any form of inducement.

‘Let your vote reflect your conscience and your vision for a better state.

‘Your votes are priceless, our democracy is sacred, and our future must never be sold.

‘As we prepare for the forthcoming governorship election, every eligible voter has a responsibility that goes beyond casting a ballot.

We must protect the integrity of our electoral process by rejecting all forms of electoral corruption, especially vote buying and selling,’ he said.

Olatunji noted that while vote trading might offer temporary financial relief, it has long-term negative consequences for governance and development.

‘When votes become commodities, leadership becomes a transaction rather than a mandate.

‘The consequences are evident: poor governance, unfulfilled promises, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, unemployment, and declining public confidence in democratic institutions,’ he said.

He added that the money collected for votes may be spent within days, but the impact of electing the wrong leaders could last for years.

‘No amount of money is worth sacrificing quality education, better healthcare, good roads, employment opportunities, and sustainable development,’ he said.

‘Olatunji reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to combating corruption through public enlightenment, stakeholder collaboration, and sustained advocacy.

‘Prevention is more effective than prosecution. This rally is part of efforts to educate citizens before the election rather than lament the consequences afterward,’ he said.

He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, faith-based organisations, the media, and other stakeholders for their commitment to credible elections in the state.

Olatunji also urged political parties and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.

‘Elections should be contests of ideas, policies, competence, and character-not contests of financial inducement,’ he said.

The Federal Government has directed the immediate rollout of new measures to improve the safety and security of health workers across the country following an increase in cases of harassment, intimidation and physical attacks in health facilities.

The directive followed the submission of the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel, according to a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms Daju Kachollom.

The committee was inaugurated on 19 May after an incident involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State.

According to the statement, the confrontation disrupted hospital services and led to industrial action, prompting the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances and develop measures to stop similar incidents across the country.

The committee consulted federal tertiary health institutions as well as professional associations, regulatory agencies, security organisations and human rights groups before submitting its recommendations.

Its findings showed that the incident in Uyo reflected a wider pattern. A total of 18 cases involving assault, intimidation or harassment were recorded in federal tertiary hospitals over the past year.

The reported incidents involved patients, their relatives, members of the public and security personnel. They resulted in physical injuries, psychological trauma, destruction of hospital property and interruptions to healthcare services.

The committee also identified several factors driving the problem, including poor communication, long waiting times, inadequate staffing, poor infrastructure, emotional stress, abuse of authority and weak security procedures within hospitals.

After reviewing the report, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, approved its recommendations and directed that they be implemented immediately alongside an action plan.

Pate said, ‘health workers dedicate their lives to caring for Nigerians and must be able to carry out their duties in an environment that is safe, secure and free from violence, intimidation or harassment.

‘The federal government will continue to work with all relevant institutions to protect our health workforce, uphold the rule of law and ensure that healthcare delivery is never compromised.’

He warned that anyone found assaulting, threatening, intimidating or harassing health workers would face investigation and prosecution wherever sufficient evidence exists.

The minister stressed that although there is no law dealing exclusively with violence against health workers, offenders could still be prosecuted under existing criminal, civil and administrative laws.

He added, ‘The absence of a specific law relating solely to violence against health workers would not prevent enforcement through existing criminal, civil or administrative laws, including applicable sanctions and compensation.

‘Federal Tertiary Health Institutions have been directed to strengthen internal security arrangements and establish Violence Prevention Teams to improve safety within health facilities nationwide’.

As part of the new measures, hospitals have been instructed to tighten access control, strengthen surveillance systems, improve visitor identification procedures and enhance security around emergency departments and other sensitive units.

Each institution is also required to appoint liaison officers to work with law enforcement agencies while ensuring security operations do not disrupt patient care or hospital services.

The ministry directed hospitals to promptly report, investigate and document every case of assault, threat or harassment. It also said affected staff should receive institutional support and be referred for appropriate assistance where necessary.

Hospital managements have further been asked to strengthen complaint resolution systems, improve communication with patients and provide staff training in conflict prevention and de-escalation.

Kachollom said broader policy proposals from the committee would be presented to the National Council on Health for consideration as part of efforts to establish a nationwide framework covering federal, state and private health facilities.

She said the ministry would monitor compliance with the new directives through regular progress reports submitted to the Coordinating Minister.

Kachollom reaffirmed the government’s position, saying, ‘The Federal Government affirms that no grievance, disagreement or official assignment constitutes lawful justification for violence against a health worker or interference with the delivery of healthcare.’

She added that authorities would enforce existing laws, ensure offenders are held accountable and take all lawful steps to protect health workers, secure hospitals and guarantee uninterrupted healthcare services.