News
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
…Investigate Reporter’s Death and Prosecute Killers
By: Our Reporter
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Lagos State Government to comply with the order of a Federal High Court in Lagos directing it to ensure an investigation into the death of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a 20-year reporter with Gboah TV, who was reportedly arrested by the Police while covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020 and later found dead, and to identify and prosecute those responsible.
In a letter written on the organization’s behalf by its lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Kenechukwu, of the law firm of Charles Musa and Co., dated August 22, 2024 and addressed to the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, MRA urged the Government to “comply with the directives of the honorable court so that justice would be seen to be done and hope given to the common man that there is still justice in the judicial system.”
Mr. Kenechukwu reminded the Attorney-General of the July 19, 2024 decision by Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji, citing page 15 of the judgment where the court directed him to take “all necessary steps to see to the investigation of the circumstances of the death of Pelumi Onifade and to conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of the death.”
The lawyer also referred to paragraph 14 of a counter-affidavit dated March 20, 2023 filed in the suit by the Attorney-General in which he stated that he would prosecute anyone found to have a prima facie case established against him in relation to the death of Mr. Onifade.
Mr. Kenechukwu recalled in the letter that during oral arguments which took place on May 13, 2024 in the suit instituted by MRA against the Police and the Lagos State Government over the death of the journalist, Mr. A. Amu, who represented the Attorney-General, also indicated willingness and readiness of the Attorney-General to conduct an inquest into the death.
He said in the light of these, MRA is praying the Government to comply with the court’s directives in the interest of justice.
MRA filed the suit against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, asking the Court, among other things, to declare that Mr. Onifade’s shooting in Oko Oba in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, by policemen on October 24, 2020 in the course of his journalistic work is unconstitutional and a gross violation of his fundamental rights while his arrest and subsequent restriction on his liberty by the Police were unlawful.
Although Justice Faji held in his judgment that there was no evidence before the court to support MRA’s claim that the late journalist died in the custody of the Police after which his body was deposited at the Ikorodu Mortuary in Lagos, he however granted the organization’s request to order an investigation and directed the Attorney-General to take all necessary steps to see to the investigation of the circumstances of Mr. Onifade’s death; conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of the death; and identify and prosecute those responsible for his death.
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Drug Peddlers in Jos Raid
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1,Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have arrested three suspected drug peddlers during a raid on a notorious hideout in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Military sources said the operation was conducted at about 6:00 a.m. on June 29 at the Congo-Russia area following sustained efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
According to the sources, the troops arrested three suspects identified as Abubakar Abdulrahman, 23; Muhammadu Abubakar, 28; and Awal Ali, 33.
The sources said quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and other illicit drugs were recovered from the suspects during the operation.
The arrested suspects have been profiled and are undergoing further investigation, while appropriate legal action will follow.
The military said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and deny drug traffickers safe havens within Plateau State.
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Drug Peddlers in Jos Raid
Court Grants Sowore N200m Bail
*Lists fresh conditions
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, granted bail to online publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
Aside a N200 million bail with two sureties, one of them must be a traditional ruler in Sowore’s community in
Ese-Odo Local Government Area in Ondo State.
The second surety, the court ruled, must have landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Also, Sowore is to surrender his international passport to the court’s deputy registrar for safekeeping. The court held that both sureties must be verified by counsel to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN.
Following Sowore’s absence in court, the judge, on June 16, 2026, revoked the bail he granted Sowore on “self-recognition” last December. Thereafter, he issued a bench warrant for the politician’s arrest after he failed to appear in court for his trial on allegations bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation.
Last Tuesday, Justice Umar ordered that Sowore be kept in the Kuje Correctional Centre until his motion for a stay of the execution of the order for the revocation of his bail and bench warrant is determined.
Justice Umar dismissed Sowore’s other application that the judge be withdrawn from further presiding over his trial on the ground of alleged bias.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore over alleged criminal defamation arising from claims that he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts made on his official X and Facebook accounts.
The defendant’s lawyer, R. O.
Adakole, however, appealed to the judge that Sowore be released to him to enable him get his passport from the US embassy in Lagos.
Justice Umar Mohammed adjourned to July 6, 2026, for continuing of hearing.
Court Grants Sowore N200m Bail
*Lists fresh conditions
Troops Rescue Farmer Shot by Suspected Armed Herders in Plateau, Recover Abandoned Cattle
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have rescued a farmer who was shot by suspected armed herders during an attack in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. on June 29 around Jebbu Miango community, where the assailants attacked a farmer identified as Mr. Lambat.
The sources said troops swiftly responded to a distress call and engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee the area before they could inflict further harm.
During the intervention, the troops rescued the victim, who had sustained gunshot wounds, and evacuated him to ENOS Hospital in Miango for urgent medical treatment.
The troops also recovered a herd of cattle abandoned by the fleeing suspects. The animals were moved to a secure location pending identification of their rightful owners and further necessary action by the relevant authorities.
Security sources said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks in the area.
Troops Rescue Farmer Shot by Suspected Armed Herders in Plateau, Recover Abandoned Cattle
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Drug Peddlers in Jos Raid
Court Grants Sowore N200m Bail*Lists fresh conditions
Troops Rescue Farmer Shot by Suspected Armed Herders in Plateau, Recover Abandoned Cattle
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