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It’s Baseless; Writers Faceless, Group Reacts To Petition Against PAP Administrator, Otuaro

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Dr. Dennis Otuaro

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

A group known as Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) has described as baseless petition against the Administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro by a group the IPDI described as ‘faceless.’

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A group which identified itself as Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-Agitators Forum (NDLEF) had written a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wherein it called for the investigation of the PAP Administrator.

The petition signed by one Jude Gbaboyor was published by some national dailies.

Reacting to the petition in a statement signed by the IPDI president, Comrade Austin Ozobo, the IPDI described the group led by Gbaboyor as illegal, arguing that it doesn’t have the moral and legal rights to petition against Otuaro.

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READ ALSO: PAP: IPDI Tackles Group Over Attack On Otuaro

Ozobo added that besides that, the PAP Administrator does not have sketelon in his cupboard that should warrant EFCC investigation, adding that he was appointed on merit.

Ozobo argued that the petition was an attempt to distract Otuaro from carrying out his job and reforming the PAP, insisting that Otuaro has done nothing wrong.

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To set the record straight, Otuaro’s appointments were based on merit and not to suit any particular interest.

“The latest empty petitions and propaganda were attempts to distract Otuaro from his mission to reform and reposition the PAP. Every well meaning leader, youth and stakeholder of the Niger Delta must stand against the detractors who are pursuing personal interests.

READ ALSO: IPDI Commends Tompolo, Pondis, For Peace, Youth Empowerment, Security In N’Delta

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“The non-existing NDLEF and its co-travellers misfired. The PAP administrator Dr Otuaro has done nothing wrong to be investigated by EFCC. No money is missing in the PAP office.

“The faceless NDLEF petition written to the EFCC is baseless, barbaric, concocted and contains nothing but lies. The EFCC can’t entertain empty petitions that are based on nothing, rather hearsay and propaganda.

“It is very shameful that the troublemakers, who appear to be deceitful and manipulative, like Jacob, but also ruthless and aggressive, like Esau are manipulating and formulating misleading information against the PAP office for no fact.

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“It is worthy of note that there is no group such as self-styled Niger Delta Liberators and Ex Agitators Forum (NDLEF). We have consulted a CAC consultant to verify the group registration status, but we were told that there is no existing group like the above name. This is a clear proof that the group is a fake and non -juristic entity.

READ ALSO: PAP: N’Delta Groups Knock Boyloaf Secretary, Gbaboyor, Over Attack On Otuaro, Tompolo

“So it lacks power to sue and be sued. It doesn’t have the legal ground to petition anyone because it is an illegal group.

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“What Gbaboyor is doing could be described as an unlawful gathering, which is a treasonable felony punishable in the law,” Ozobo added.

The IPDI president, while noting that the “public is aware that the current administrator, Dr Otuaro is prudent in handling money in the PAP office,” advised the “mischief makers to desist and join other well meaning leaders and stakeholders to give massive support to the administrator.”

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Nigerian Don Bags US Varsity Elite Research Fellowship

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A Nigerian scholar, Raphael Ebiefung, has been awarded the prestigious Grace Jordan McFadden Professor Programme Fellowship at the University of South Carolina.

A statement issued by the Institution noted that the “highly competitive fellowship” recognises academic leaders who advance knowledge and address pressing social challenges.

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Ebiefung, a doctoral researcher and a one-time assistant lecturer and librarian at Top-Faith University, Nigeria, who specialises in human-AI interaction and information behaviour, is expected to join “an elite group of scholars shaping the future of higher education and interdisciplinary inquiry,” the University said.

Ebiefung, in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, described the award as a “milestone that underscores Nigeria’s capacity to produce world-class scholars.”

READ ALSO:NUPENG Tanker Drivers Announce Strike Over CNG Trucks Dispute

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He said, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Grace Jordan McFadden Fellowship. It is a testament to the resilience and potential of young Nigerian academics striving to make a global impact.

“My research seeks to understand the dynamics of human behaviour in relation to AI systems. This area is critical as we move deeper into the digital age,” he explained.

Nigerian scholars have continued to leave an impressive intellectual footprint across the world.

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The PUNCH reported how, in August, a Nigerian scientist, Deborah Agbakwuru, was awarded the prestigious Besancon scholarship at the University of Montana.

READ ALSO:Danish Court Sentences Ex-minister To Prison For Child Abuse Material

The scholarship is one of the most distinguished graduate recognitions at the university and is awarded annually to an outstanding researcher in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences.

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Similarly, Nigerian-born researcher, Peter Ngene, won a €2m grant from the European Research Council for his project in 2024.

Ngene, an associate professor at the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, was among seven researchers from Utrecht University, the Netherlands, who won the grant. According to a statement by his university, Ngene’s work focused on the “interface-mediated fast ionic conductivity in nanocomposite solid-state electrolytes.”

He said the goal was to unravel the reason why the ionic conductivity of certain solids can increase or decrease by thousands of fold at their interface with other solids.

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NBA Drags IGP Egbetokun To Court Over Tinted Glass Permit Policy

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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, challenging the legality of the Nigeria Police Force’s tinted glass permit policy.

The lawsuit, instituted on Wednesday, September 2, 2025, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, comes months after the IGP introduced a directive requiring motorists to apply for and renew tinted glass permits annually through a digital platform, for a fee.

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In a statement released Friday, the NBA described the policy as unlawful, unconstitutional, and lacking transparency. It also raised concerns that proceeds from the exercise were being paid into a private account rather than the Federation Account.

“Despite the extension of enforcement to October 2, 2025, several motorists have reported harassment and extortion by policemen at checkpoints on the basis of this policy,” the association said, warning that it infringes on citizens’ rights to privacy, freedom of movement, and dignity.

READ ALSO:Ex-gov Ohakim, IGP, Others Win Fundamental Rights Suit

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The NBA also questioned the validity of the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, a military-era law under which the police has anchored the policy, stressing that it may not meet constitutional tests required in a democratic society.

The action was filed by the NBA’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), led by Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN) and Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun (SAN). The association vowed to pursue the case “to a logical conclusion.”

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

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THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION CHALLENGES THE LEGALITY OF THE POLICE TINTED GLASS PERMIT POLICY OF THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE

One of the key resolutions of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association at its pre-conference NEC meeting held on the 23rd day of August 2025 in Enugu is that the NBA should challenge the legality of the Nigeria Police Force tinted permit policy in court.

READ ALSO:IGP Launches Safe School Initiative In Bauchi

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In April 2025, the Inspector General of Police purportedly introduced a policy which mandated members of the Nigerian motoring public to apply for and obtain annual motor tinted glass permits from the Nigeria Police Force for a fee. The Inspector General of Police in the same month purportedly launched a digital portal (http://possap.gov.ng) through which the application for tinted glass permits were to be processed. We are being informed that the portal and the policy are to be managed by a private vendor, and there is no indication that the funds generated from the enforcement of the purported policy will go into the Federation Account.

The Inspector General of Police initially pegged the date of commencement of the enforcement of the Policy to the 1st day of June 2025, but subsequently extended the date to the 2nd day of October 2025.

Despite the fact that the date of commencement of the enforcement of the purported policy has been extended to the 2nd day of October 2025, there have been several reported cases of harassment and extortion of citizens by the Policemen in checkpoint duty on the basis of this same Policy, thus raising serious concerns of threats to and violation of citizens’ fundamental rights to dignity of human person, right to privacy, right to freedom of movement and the right to own movable property guaranteed as by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

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Furthermore, the introduction and proposed enforcement of the tinted glass permit Policy has raised several other genuine concerns, including the validity of the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act (Decree 1991), a military-era law under which the Police has sought refuge. A critical scrutiny of the Act would confirm concerns that the legislation may be unable to satisfy the test of a law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society under Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution as to justify reliance on it to deprive citizens of their rights to privacy and free movement.

READ ALSO:NCAA Petitions IGP Over KWAM 1’s Unruly Conduct In Abuja Airport

Moreover, the fact that the legislation does not make provision for renewal of tinted glass permits or payment of fees for renewal are serious issues which clearly reveal that the Policy lacks statutory foundation.

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Furthermore, that payment for the permit is being made into a private account: PARKWAY PROJECTS Account No: 4001017918 raises serious concerns of transparency surrounding the utilisation of funds realised from the exercise, given that the account is neither domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria nor associated with the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Against the above backdrop, the Nigerian Bar Association, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) has on Wednesday the 2nd September 2025 instituted a public interest action before the Federal High Court, Abuja in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025 between: The Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. The Inspector General of Police & Anor essentially challenging the legality of the tinted glass permit policy.

The NBA-SPIDEL, under the leadership of its Transition Committee Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN and the Section’s Public Interest Litigation Committee, chaired by Mr. Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, SAN, whose proactive efforts were responsible for the accomplishment of this task, have been directed to pursue this litigation to a logical conclusion.

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Peju Ogunmola’s Family Breaks Silence On Cause Of Son’s Death

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The family of veteran actress, Peju Ogunmola, has spoken out for the first time following the passing of the actress’ only son, Sola Ayomikun Omobolanle, dismissing rumours about the circumstances of his death.

Tribune Online reports that Ayomikun, the 24-year-old son of Ogunmola and her husband, comic actor Sunday Omobolanle, popularly known as Aluwe, died on September 2, 2025.

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Shortly after the news broke, unverified reports surfaced online alleging that his death was linked to a bathroom accident — claims the family has now categorically denied.

In a statement signed by Yemi Amodu on behalf of the Ogunmola family, they clarified that Ayomikun passed away in a hospital in Ibadan after a brief illness, not from any accident.

READ ALSO:Veteran Actress, Peju Ogunmola, Loses Only Child

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The statement read: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved son, Sola Ayomikun Omobolanle, a jewel, a precious child, and a rising star whose light shone brightly and touched many lives.

“We wish to clearly state that Sola did not pass away as a result of any bathroom accident, contrary to false reports being circulated online. He was briefly unwell and, during this period, received first-class medical care. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he peacefully answered the call of his Creator.”

The family further condemned the speculation surrounding his death, describing it as painful and disrespectful.

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READ ALSO:The Only celebrity I Have Ever Had A Crush Is Davido – Peju Johnson

“These misleading stories, suggesting that Sola died from a fall in the bathroom without help, are entirely false. They not only dishonour his memory but also bring unnecessary pain to his loved ones,” the statement added.

According to the family, Ayomikun has since been laid to rest at Eternal Rest Home in Ibadan, surrounded by relatives and close friends.

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They also expressed appreciation for the support received during their period of mourning:

At this time of grief, we are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support we have received from family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. Your kindness has been a source of strength and comfort. We pray that no family will ever have to endure the pain of untimely loss. May the Almighty grant Sola eternal rest and grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

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