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Edo Assembly Invasion: Court Grants Suspects Bail

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A Benin High Court  on Monday granted bail to seven suspects, who are facing trial for allegedly invading the Edo House of Assembly complex on August 6, 2020.

The suspects are; Wilfred Ogbewe,52, Igbinobono Collins,26, Salami Osayomore,25, Odion Osayande,23, Morgan Uwanboe,47, Ifeoluwa Oladele,36, and Agbonrere Festus,25 .

The presiding Judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, granted the suspects to bail  in the sum of N500,000  with  a surety each in like sum.

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Ikponmwoba said the surety must be gainfully employed and resides within the Court’s jurisdiction.

It will be recalled that the suspects allegedly invaded the state House of Assembly premises in Benin on the said date, in a manner that caused  breach of peace.

Meanwhile, judgment in their fundamental human rights action was adjourned to Tuesday, Sept. 8.

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Counsel to the Applicants,  Matthias Obayuwana, who filed a 24 paragraphs affidavit in support of his motion, submitted that the motion was aimed at enforcing the fundamental rights to liberty and personal dignity, freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of the Applicants by the police authorities.

He submitted that the Applicants were arrested while performing their lawful duties as Members of the state Vigilante group who were at the Assembly complex at the instance of State Government to protect the place from being vandalized by hoodlums on that fateful day.

Obayuwana also told the court that the Applicants were arrested by a team of Policemen led by one Supol Dahiru Ibrahim and taken to Force Headquarters Abuja where they were tortured and detained under unfavourable condition without food.

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He emphasized that the rights to personal dignity is not such that can be negotiated, waived, neglected or overlooked.

Citing sections of the law to drive home his points, the Applicants’ counsel told the court that the Respondents did not present any warrant of arrest, petition or Complaint by anyone against the Applicants on the basis of which they acted in the early hours of that day, an exercise that was ill-motivated and which smacks of partisanship in the  electoral  politics of Edo State.

He urged the court to accordingly, restrain the Respondents, their agents, servants and privies  from further interference with the fundamental human rights to liberty of the Applicants in the discharge of their duties as Vigilante employed by the Edo State Government for the protection of Government properties.

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Obayuwana also prayed the court amongst other reliefs to direct the Respondents jointly and severally to apologise to the Applicants in writing and publish same in at least one national daily for the unwarranted infringement of their fundamental rights to liberty pursuant to section 35(6) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Objecting the application, counsel to the Police, Mr
Akomen Adaghe, urged the court to rule against the Applicants, saying they were arrested with guns, an offence punishable by law.

Joined as Respondents in the case are; the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, zone 5, the Edo  Commissioner of Police and Supol Dahiru Ibrahim.

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UK High Commissioner Concludes Anambra Visit, Urges Transparent Election

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The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, has completed a two-day visit to Anambra State, meeting with political and security leaders to discuss preparations for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The visit comes just weeks before the election, scheduled for 8 November.

During his stay, Montgomery held talks with Governor Charles Soludo, gubernatorial candidates, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the state Commissioner of Police, and representatives from civil society organizations.

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READ ALSO:Transgender Woman Jailed For Deceiving Man About Gender In UK

According to a statement from the British High Commission in Abuja on Thursday, the discussions centered around the technical and logistical preparations needed to ensure a smooth election.

Among the key topics were securing the 5,720 polling units across Anambra, addressing voter turnout concerns, and managing the security situation across the state’s 21 local government areas, the statement noted.

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Speaking at the end of his visit, Montgomery emphasized the importance of a transparent and peaceful electoral process.

READ ALSO:INEC Accredits 121 Observers For Anambra Governorship Poll

“Our focus is solely on the electoral process itself – that it should be transparent, peaceful, inclusive, and enjoy the confidence of the Anambra people.

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“We do not endorse any particular candidate or political party. I encourage all eligible voters to exercise their democratic rights and to engage peacefully in the election,” he said.

The High Commissioner reaffirmed the UK’s continued support for Nigeria in strengthening its democratic institutions and promoting good governance, stressing that the UK would remain a committed partner in the lead-up to the election and beyond.

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PSC Promotes Over 400 Officers, Appoints New DIG For North-East

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The Police Service Commission has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Dankwara Mohammed, as a Deputy Inspector General of Police to represent the North-East geopolitical zone.

Mohammed replaces DIG Sahabu Abubakar Yahaya, who recently retired from service.

In a statement by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on Friday, the Commission also approved the promotion of Commissioner of Police, Abibo Deinma Reuben, to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

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READ ALSO:PSC Names Conference Hall After Ex-chair Arase

Eleven Deputy Commissioners were also elevated to substantive Commissioners.

The statement partly read, “The Commission also approved the promotion of CP Abibo Deinma Reuben from the rank of Commissioner to the next rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

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“The Commission further approved the promotion of eleven Deputy Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Substantive Commissioners. They are Naziru Bello Kankarofi; Nendel Joseph Gomwalk; Tijani Olaiwola Fatai; Wilson Aniefiok Akpan; Morkwap Dongshal, and Abdullateef Ajape Yusuf. Others are Cletus Nwadiogbu, Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, Taraba State; Ahmed Mohammed Bello; Abdulraheem Nurudeen; Patrick Daaor and Umar Mohammed Hadejia.”

Thirteen Assistant Commissioners were promoted to Deputy Commissioners, while 44 Chief Superintendents advanced to Assistant Commissioners.

READ ALSO:PSC Promotes 12 AIGs, 226 Other Senior Police Officers

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Similarly, 412 Superintendents rose to the rank of Chief Superintendents, with several Deputy Superintendents confirmed as substantive Superintendents.

The PSC chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd) congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation, stressing that promotion in the police comes with higher responsibilities and expectations.

The promotions come amid a series of recent promotions in the Nigeria Police Force.

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PHOTOS: Obi Meets Commonwealth Chief In London, Urges Youth Empowerment

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A former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has called for deeper investment in education, innovation, and youth empowerment.

This is as he noted that they are foundation for strengthening democracy and driving development across Commonwealth nations.

Obi made the call after meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, at the organisation’s headquarters in London on Thursday, October 16.

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Writing on X on Friday, Obi said the meeting — which he attended with his wife — focused on “promoting democracy, deepening the rule of law, expanding access to education, and empowering young people across Commonwealth nations.”

READ ALSO:Why Wike Is Always Attacking Peter Obi — Obidient Movement

“With over 2.5 billion of the Commonwealth’s population under the age of 30, young people remain the organisation’s greatest asset and hope for the future,” Obi said.

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He stressed that for Nigeria, “a nation richly endowed with human and natural resources, meaningful investment in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship is key to unlocking the vast potential of our youth.”

“When properly equipped, our young people will not only drive national development but also contribute significantly to global progress,” he added.

Obi described youth unemployment as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” noting that solving it requires “intentional and practical action — through skills development, access to quality education, and the creation of an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises to thrive.”

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READ ALSO:How Obi Surprised Me Early Morning with ‘Ghana-must-go’ Bag — Charly Boy

The Commonwealth Secretary-General who recently became the first African woman to lead the 56-member organisation, reaffirmed that her top priorities include “education, youth engagement, and employment creation.”

According to Obi, Botchwey “spoke passionately about the need to build inclusive societies that promote democracy, good governance, justice, and equal opportunity for all.”

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Her visionary, reform-minded leadership continues to amplify the voices of developing nations within the Commonwealth and inspire greater cooperation among member states,” Obi wrote.

READ ALSO:2027: Details Of Jonathan, Peter Obi Meeting Emerge

He quoted the Secretary-General as stressing that “empowering young people is not only vital to sustaining democracy but also indispensable to shaping a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future for all Commonwealth citizens.”

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Obi described Botchwey as “a trailblazer whose dedication to education, youth empowerment, and democratic ideals strengthens the global Commonwealth community.”

“I remain confident that with leaders like her, the Commonwealth will continue to serve as a beacon of unity, hope, and shared progress for its member nations,” he said.

Meanwhile, checks by The PUNCH shows that the body is yet to issue an official statement on the meeting or related developments.

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