A member of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Yusuf, has called on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to tender a “national apology” for saying that hoodlums dressed in military attire were responsible for the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.

Yusuf, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Kogi State, made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Soldiers had shot at #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll plaza on October 20.

Malami had reportedly told journalists that hoodlums were possibly involved in the shootings.

“You cannot rule out the possibility of perhaps hoodlums that set in to create a scene…could equally partake in the process,” Malami was quoted as saying.

Yusuf stated that while there are lessons to learn by both the protesters and the government, Malami’s alleged statement that hoodlum in military apparel shot at protesters deserves to be followed with a national apology.

In the statement titled, ‘Lekki shooting: Apologise for Your Inappropriate Comment Rep. Tells Malami…asks FG to Reverse Misstep Against Protest Leaders,’ Yusuf described as condemnable, the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of two youth members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and their subsequent resumption of sitting during the weekend.

Yusuf advised the Federal Government to reverse its “missteps” of freezing bank accounts and seizing passports of Nigerian youths considered to have actively taken part in the nationwide protest against policy brutality.

The statement partly read, “It is thoroughly confounding that in spite of the Federal Government’s promise to look into the demands of the protesters, government went to great lengths with actions and words that aroused real doubts over its sincerity. The Federal Government asked them to calm down and they did so, only for the Federal Government to embark upon series of arrests, passport seizure and freezing of bank accounts of the #EndSARS protesters.

 “While right-thinking citizens feel concerned about the real possibilities of driving the democratic expression of dissenting opinions into the threatening catacombs of underground activities, the Federal Government must advice itself against further deliberate missteps. It is absolutely pathetic that a government that promised progressive ideals has consistently shown a tendency to find comfort in dictatorial fiat and jackboot oppression of its people.”

While noting that the Federal Government’s Presidential Panel on Police Reforms acceded to the five demands made by the protesters, Yusuf stressed the need for the government to foster a sense of belonging and social justice rather than “decisions that further portray Nigeria in negative light internationally.”

The Nigeria Police Force says the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, is in “firm control” of workings in the force.

The force was responding to an assertion by Major General Garba Wahab (rtd), who said the IGP “is not in control” of the administration and operation of the force.

In a statement by police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, on Tuesday, the force said the retired general spoke “out of ignorance” and from a “jackboot mentality that lacks proper understanding of democratic policing culture.”

It said Wahab spoke on a subject “outside his areas of core competence.”

The police said, since Adamu assumed office of the IGP, he has shown “sterling qualities” in what the operational/administrative command and control of the Force should be.

The force therefore asked the general public not to “allow sentiments becloud their sense of judgment. It also urged Wahab to always fact-check his assumptions before going public.

“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to comments and reactions during an interview session on Channels TV Sunrise Daily program of 13th November, 2020 where one Major General Garba Wahab (rtd) commented that ‘…rather than improving the improvement (sic) …the IGP is sitting down there with all the paraphernalia of office deprived of actually having control of police… he is not in control’,” the statement said.

“The Force wishes to categorically state that the Rtd Major General is wrong in his assertion as IGP Adamu is firmly in control of the administration and operation of the Nigeria Police Force. It notes that the comments by Rtd Major General Garba Wahab shows that he spoke purely out of ignorance and from a jackboot mentality that lacks proper understanding of democratic policing culture, rooted in the Rule of Law. It reiterates that the retired Officer clearly spoke on a subject outside his areas of core competence.

“It is noteworthy that since his assumption of office as the 20th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni, a global policing icon, has in the past twenty-three months of his leadership of the Force, shown sterling qualities in what the operational/administrative command and control of the Force should be. This is exemplified in the various reform policies being implemented to reposition the Force for greater efficiency, uphold the rule of law in policing actions and drive a citizen-centred policing approach.

“It is to the credit of his robust leadership style that even in the face of the recent violence occasioned by the ENDSARS protest and provocative attacks on Police personnel and assets, the officers under his command exercised maximum restraint and stayed calm, professional and committed to maintaining law and order in the country.

“The Force therefore enjoins the general public and privileged opinion moulders not to allow sentiments becloud their sense of judgment but to use opportunities of national platforms to offer constructive criticisms and advocate opinions that will help in improving governance generally and policing in particular in the country.

“Major General Garba Wahab (rtd) will do well to fact-check his assumptions before going public.”

Nigerian Musician, Seun Kuti who is also the youngest son of the late famous afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, has revived a political movement of his father, the Movement of the People, as part of his drive to call for better governance in the country, as well as an end to police brutality.

Kuti while addressing the press on Tuesday at the Kalakuta Museum in the Ikeja area of Lagos, said the days in which members of his family were being harassed by security operatives appear to have returned.

He vowed to mobilise citizens to rise and defend their rights under the aegis of the revived movement.

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to ensure that there will be no repeat of the #EndSARS protests in the country, culminating in lootings and destruction of lives and properties.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyiadi, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday after a meeting after the President presided over the National Security Council (NSC) meeting at the State House.

Details shortly.

A Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has adjourned proceedings in the certificate forgery case against Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Recall that the court had on November 3 adjourned hearing to November 16.

The suit, which was filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Edobor Williams on July 14 at the Benin Division of the Federal High Court, joined Obaseki, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.

In the suit marked FHC/B/CS/74/2020, the plaintiffs specifically prayed the court for an order disqualifying the governor from contesting the September 19 governorship election in Edo State on the grounds that he supplied false information on oath to INEC, an act said to be contrary to Section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

Recall that the PDP candidate won the election to secure a second term in office, defeating APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

When the case came up for mention on Monday, Obaseki’s counsel, Mr Ken Mozia (SAN), prayed the court to hear and resolve all pending motions relating to pleadings before going into the substantive matter.

Mozia specifically asked the court to allow him to move his motion challenging the competence of the reply filed by the APC to the defence of the governor in the matter.

PDP’s counsel, Razak Isenalumhe, aligned himself with the governor’s position that all pending motions be resolved first before delving into the substantive matter.

But APC’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), objected to the position of the counsels on the pending motions and prayed the court to defer all the pending applications and allow him to go straight into the substantive matter by calling his witnesses who were in court.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed, held that the motion of Obaseki challenging the competence of APC’s reply to his defence is fundamental because it related to the pleadings and has to be resolved first.

The judge noted that filing of pleadings can not be said to have been completed when motion challenging the competence of a reply to defence has not been resolved

He subsequently fixed Wednesday, November 18, to hear Obaseki’s motion.