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Tinubu’s Speech Did Not Address Protesters’ Demands, Says Falana

Published

1 year ago

August 4, 2024

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to address the demands of the peaceful protesters.

In a statement on Sunday, Falana said the presidential speech delivered this morning falls short of addressing the key demand of the protesters: reversal of the policy of withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

“If the government takes the fight against corruption to oil dealers and crude oil is processed in government-owned refineries, there will be no basis for fuel subsidy, which is induced by the importation of petroleum products. A positive response to the key demands of the youths to review the protesters could make them review their actions. Insensitivity to their demands can only provoke continued action,” he said.

While congratulating the protesters for drawing the attention of politicians who are eating in Abuja to the plight of millions of Nigerians who are hungry, Falana demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters that were arrested and detained saying they had not committed any criminal offence.

Falana also condemned the repression of the peaceful protesters while commiserating with all those who lost loved ones in the protest.

He called on the government to set up commissions of inquiry to bring to justice those responsible for the reckless killings.

“We commiserate with the families of the patriots’ peaceful protesters that were killed and call on the Federal and State Governments to set up Commissions of Inquiry, which should include representatives of credible human rights organisations and the NBA to investigate the killings with a view to bringing to justice prosecute the reckless murderers in Police uniform and ensuring that.

“The family members of the deceased should be adequately compensated by the federal government. The victims of the barbarous police killings should be identified and celebrated as heroes and heroines of the struggle for the emancipation of the downtrodden Nigerian people. Participation in peaceful protests should never be criminalised in Nigeria.”

Find the full statement below:

WE CONDEMN THE REPRESSION OF THE PEACEFUL PROTESTS OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS

Recently, Nigerian youths announced their wish to protest against bad governance in the country from August 1-10, 2024. Various organisations independently listed a number of demands and invited Government to react to them. Instead of addressing the demands, the federal government and some state governments embarked on a vicious campaign of blackmail and calumny. Without any scintilla of evidence whatsoever, the youths were accused of being used by frustrated politicians and other disgruntled elements.

In a very provocative manner, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio said that “while you protest, we shall be eating.” On his own part, Vice President Kashim Shettima said that the protesters are “idiots. ”

However, in a desperate bid to prevent the protests from taking place, the federal government met with selected political, religious, and traditional leaders. The groups assured the federal government that the protests would not be allowed. Some phoney groups that were not involved in planning the protests announced that they were withdrawing from the protests. But as the government could not fully rely on such assurances. A number of lumpen elements were hurriedly assembled and mobilized to either disrupt the protests and/or stage counter protests in support of government.

On the eve of the protests, the Governments of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, procured ex parte orders from the courts to confine the protesters to designated places. Even though the orders were not served on the organisers of the protests, the youths complied and gathered in the designated centres.

To the utter embarrassment of the government, the protests were peacefully conducted in many states of the Federation. In the full glare of the media, thugs attacked the unarmed protesters while some overzealous police personnel shot and killed a number of protesters. Journalists have also been harassed and intimidated. We condemn the unprovoked attacks on journalists and peaceful protesters.

It is the statutory responsibility of the Police to protect protesters against thugs who are the creation of criminal neglect. The Police should not hide under the guise of attacking thugs to attack peaceful protesters. Other thugs took advantage of such official lawlessness to unleash mayhem in some states. Thus, the official and the private thugs engaged in the destruction of public properties and looting of food and other items.

The police became overwhelmed. Since the members of the anti-protest police squad were not equipped with cannisters of teargas, water cannon, and rubber bullets, they shot and killed many unarmed protesters and other members of the public.

In order to further intimidate the protesters, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has threatened that the military would intervene if the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests continue unabated. However, in a few states, the Commissioners of Police adopted a professional approach and even provided water, and the peaceful protests continue in those states. Some governors have also addressed protesters and acknowledged the peaceful nature of the protests.

Instead of threatening unarmed protesters, the military authorities should allow the police to continue to discharge its constitutional responsibility. Apart from a few trigger happy police officers who had shot and killed protesters, the Nigeria Police Force has handled the protests in a professional manner.

We commiserate with the families of the patriots peaceful protesters that were killed and call on the Federal and State Governments t to set up Commissions of Inquiry, which should include representatives of credible human rights organisations and the NBA to investigate the killings with a view to bringing to justice prosecute the reckless murderers in Police uniform and ensuring that . The family members of the deceased should be adequately compensated by the federal government. The victims of the barbarous police killings should be identified and celebrated as heroes and heroines of the struggle for the emancipation of the downtrodden Nigerian people. Participation in peaceful protests should never be criminalised in Nigeria.

It is pertinent to state that the threat of General Musa is illegal and unconstitutional since Nigeria is no longer under a military dictatorship. The threat cannot be justified under section 217 of the Constitution, which provides that the armed forces shall be empowered to suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authorities, to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

In Yusuf V. Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR (pt. 956) 96 at 174-175, the Court of Appeal held that: “It is up to the Police to protect our nascent democracy and not the Military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarized. This is not what the citizenry bargained for, after wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious steps should be taken to civilianize the polity and thereby ensure survival and substance of democracy.”

In the case APC v. PDP & Ors (2015) LPELR-24349(CA) the Court of Appeal held the armed forces can only suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, and even then, the military must be invited by the President, upon fulfilment of specified conditions, prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. The Court further held that “even the President of Nigeria has no powers to call out the Armed Forces and unleash them (Military Officers) on a peaceful citizenry who are exercising their franchise to elect their leaders.”

Similarly, in Femi Falana SAN v Chief of Army Staff, (FHC/L/CS/1939/2019), the plaintiff asked the Federal High Court to stop the Nigerian army from conducting “operation positive identification” exercise which entailed the demand of valid means of identification from Nigerians by military officials across the country. Justice Railwan Aikawa declared the exercise illegal and unconstitutional on the ground that members of the armed forces lack the power to subject civilians to any form of security check outside the North East geopolitical zone where the country is involved in waging a counter-insurgency operation.

This is not the time for threats by military and civilian public officers. Having terminated the corrupt and murderous military dictatorship in Nigeria in May 1999, Nigerians will resist any violation of their hard- won democratic rights by armed gendarmes. Since the government has recognised the right of Nigerians to take part in protests, the police should be prohibited from resorting to the use of lethal weapons during peaceful protests.

We congratulate the protesters for drawing the attention of the few politicians who are eating in Abuja to the plight of millions of Nigerians who are hungry. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters that were arrested and detained because they have not committed any criminal offence.

We call on the President to address the demands of the peaceful protesters. So far, the Presidential Speech falls short of addressing the key demand, which is common to all the lists of demands of various organisations and protesters in the street: reversal of the policy of withdrawal of fuel subsidy. if the government takes the fight against corruption to oil dealers and crude oil is processed in government-owned refineries, there will be no basis for fuel subsidy, which is induced by the importation of petroleum products. A positive response to the key demands of the youths to review the protesters could make them review their actions. Insensitivity to their demands can only provoke continued action.

Finally, we wish to draw the attention of the managers of the neocolonial state of Nigeria to the case of Inspector General of Police v All Nigeria Peoples Party (2008) 12 WRN 65 where the Court of Appeal held:

“A rally or placard-carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a trend recognised and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilised countries. It will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to require a pass to hold a rally. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of democracy and are now reaping the dividend of their experience.”

Femi Falana SAN,

The Chair,

Alliance on Surviving Covid 19

and Beyond ASCAB.

News

Why Sowore Was Taken To Prison After Bail – Police

Published

13 hours ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

The court granted bail to Sowore with N500,000 and two sureties, which his legal team was working to perfect at the time of the police action.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja shortly after the incident, human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, accused the police of violently attacking and removing Sowore moments after his bail was granted.

Adeyanju alleged that more than 50 armed officers stormed the court premises, descended on Sowore, and took him away by force while refusing to present a valid remand order.

“Sowore had just been granted bail, and while we were conferring with him here, the police suddenly launched an attack. More than 50 officers violently descended on him and took him away by force. We don’t even know where they have taken him,” he said.

He said the officer who led the operation briefly displayed what he claimed was a remand order but refused to allow Sowore’s lawyers to inspect it.

Adeyanju said, “The officer flashed the document, and when we insisted on reviewing it, he pocketed it and ordered that they must go.

“When we asked where they were taking him, he said Kuje Prison. We demanded to see the remand order as endorsed by the court, but he refused.”

He further alleged that during the scuffle, the police accused Sowore of insulting the Inspector General of Police, saying, “Because Sowore called the IG useless, they must deal with him.”

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FIFA’s Use Of Kebbi Stadium In Banner Sparks Outrage, Funding Row

Published

14 hours ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

Global football body FIFA has stirred a storm of reactions across Nigeria after showcasing the Birnin Kebbi Stadium project in Kebbi State — a facility co-funded with the Nigeria Football Federation — on its official social media pages.

FIFA on Saturday used an image of the project, dating back to 2023, as the new profile banner on its official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

The image, showing a half-furnished stadium in Birnin Kebbi, quickly went viral.

Built under the FIFA Forward Programme, the stadium was meant to symbolise progress in grassroots football. But as the photo circulated online, fans flooded social media with outrage and speculation.

Some netizens interpreted FIFA’s post as a subtle jab at the NFF, following recent allegations of fund mismanagement.

The uproar comes just days after football critic Chinedu Mobike, via his official Instagram handle #c_mobike, on October 23, 2025, accused the NFF of squandering millions of dollars meant for infrastructure projects, including its twin project in Delta State.

Mobike, in his viral video, claimed that FIFA gave the NFF “1.2 million dollars for two stadiums” — one in Kebbi and another in Ugborodo, Delta State — which, he alleged, “till today did not see daylight.”

Comparing Nigeria’s FIFA-funded projects with those of other nations, Mobike alleged that while “other countries used the funds to truly develop football, Nigeria produced nothing to show.

“The NFF should sit up…There are no active projects promoting football or sports in Nigeria,” Mobike said.

According to The PUNCH, the next day, Friday, October 24, 2025, the NFF issued an official statement, which it described as a “fresh clarification to misinformation” by some social media users (names not mentioned) who claimed the NFF “collects millions of dollars from FIFA annually to misappropriate.”

The statement, retrieved from the NFF website, was titled: “NFF: Monies received from FIFA & CAF are for specific purposes, and audited in every cycle.”

While Mobike’s video reignited calls for reform, the hashtag #SaveNigerianFootball has been trending on X, as users express frustration and hope that collective pressure might finally bring transparency to Nigerian football governance.

In its October 24 statement, the NFF firmly denied any wrongdoing, explaining that every dollar received from FIFA or CAF is tied to a specific purpose and audited annually.

“The monies meant for development purposes are tied to specific projects.

“FIFA Forward funds are properly specified and under strict adherence to financial regulations, compliance, monitoring, and auditing at every stage,” the NFF said.

The Federation cited ongoing FIFA Forward projects such as the NFF/FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, stressing that every phase is verified before funds are released directly to FIFA-approved consultants.

Dismissing the viral reports as “fictitious figures,” the NFF added that those spreading misinformation “would find no reason to seek clout if they had any idea how much it costs to organise a single match of any of the national teams.”

But the clarification failed to calm the storm.

Instead, FIFA’s quiet profile update on Saturday reignited debate, with many Nigerians reading it as a silent but deliberate signal.

Many questioned how long it would take to fully complete a mini-stadium project that came to light in May 2023, after the groundbreaking event in September 2020 by the former Kebbi governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

In December 2023, it was reported that Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris unveiled the FIFA/NFF-backed stadium project, saying it was designed to “boost the morale of youths in the state.”

He noted that the project cost $1,183,000, with the state government donating four hectares of land and paying ₦19 million in compensation to landowners.

Earlier, in May 2023, FIFA described the Kebbi project as part of its commitment to grassroots football, writing on its website InsideFIFA: “It is no surprise, then, that Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi, was chosen back in 2020 as the site for the construction of an artificial football pitch now available for young boys and girls to use.

“Meanwhile, a second pitch is under construction in Ugborodo… these two ambitious projects have received around USD 2 million in funding from FIFA through its Forward Programme.”

Online Reactions
Social media erupted with interpretations and comparisons.

Some users viewed FIFA’s action as subtle recognition rather than mockery. One X user, @Poka741997, wrote: “FIFA updating their header is symbolic. It’s recognition for Nigeria, even if the stadium’s budget is modest by international standards.”

Others saw it as a global embarrassment.

User #_AsiwajuLerry commented: “FIFA changed their Twitter header to the $1.2m stadium built by the NFF. Global shame.”

Echoing that sentiment, #OyokunyiOkon added: “This is embarrassing. The NFF should be ashamed that FIFA is showcasing a $1.2 million ‘stadium’ in Kebbi that clearly reflects misplaced priorities and poor accountability.”

Comparing Nigeria’s project to Senegal’s 50,000-seat Stade Abdoulaye Wade, user #FemiOguntayo2 remarked: “Nigerians want to build a world-class stadium with $1.2m… Haba! We know NFF is corrupt but haba na…

“This is Stade Blaise Sené (also known as Stade du Sénégal or Abdoulaye Wade National Stadium) in Diamniadio, Senegal. Its total construction cost was $270 million, funded largely by the Senegalese government and built by Turkey’s Summa Construction Company. FIFA’s way of mocking the NFF. How did they spend $1.2m on that stadium? Exposing the kwaruption in the NFF?”

Another user, #mario99amr29, suggested FIFA’s post was deliberate: “We know what’s at play.

“If FIFA can display this at the expense of other successful projects, maybe it’s a subtle callout. Nigeria vs Kenya: A case study.”

As of press time, FIFA had yet to issue any official comment explaining the use of the Kebbi stadium image on its banner. PUNCH

News

Police Arrests Principal Supplier Of Weapons To Bandits In Delta

Published

16 hours ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

The Special Assignment Team of the Delta state Police Command has arrested a key supplier of weapons to bandit groups in the northern part of Nigeria

The suspect, one Ahmed Ibrahim (31) male, resident of Ekpan in Uvwie local government area, has long been on the command’s watch list for his alleged role in several high-profile kidnapping and armed-robbery operations.

The Commands Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Bright Edafe, in a statement disclosed that acting on credible intelligence from the Force Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), Abuja, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson, arrested a female suspects, one Jamila Abubakar, at Conoil Filling Station, Warri–Patani Road, Effurun.

The statement revealed that upon her arrest, officers discovered the cash sum of ₦550,000 neatly concealed beneath her bag and suspected to be proceeds from illicit transactions.

According to DAILY POST her apprehension provided a crucial lead that set off a well-coordinated follow-up operation.

“Buildin on that intelligence, the operatives stormed Niger-Cat area of Warri, where they successfully arrested a notorious arms peddler, one Ahmed Ibrahim (31) male, resident of Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area, at about 0725 hrs on 22nd October 2025.

“A search led to the recovery of a bag containing one hundred and fifteen rounds 115 rounds of 7.63mm AK-47 live ammunition, 220 rounds of SMG rifle ammunition, and 32 live cartridges”.

Edafe further noted, that preliminary investigations revealed that, the suspect is a key supplier of weapons to bandit groups in the north and has long been on the Command’s watch list for his alleged role in several high-profile kidnapping and armed-robbery operations.

According to the statement, Ahmed Ibrahim, is also linked to the kidnap and murder of one Ogheneovo Onemu (female), who was abducted on May 27, 2024 at Edjekota community in Ughelli North LGA, and later murdered after a ransom payment of ₦4,000,000.

Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, described the breakthrough as another testament to the Command’s unwavering commitment to stemming the flow of illegal arms, dismantling criminal syndicates, and bringing offenders to justice.

The CP urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information to aid the fight against crime, assuring the public that the Command will sustain its momentum against criminal elements and remain resolute in protecting the lives and property of all law-abiding citizens.