News Politics October 31, 2026 Tinubu has borrowed nearly $100bn, yet Nigerians remain poor – Obi

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain how his administration utilised nearly $100 billion in borrowed funds over the past three years.

Obi, who spoke on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the homecoming ceremony of the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, and the inauguration of the NDC secretariat, also called on Nigerians to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election.

The former Anambra State governor questioned the administration’s handling of the economy, alleging that despite the huge borrowings, Nigerians were still grappling with poverty, hunger, unemployment and inadequate social infrastructure.

He argued that the country needed a president with the energy and capacity to address its challenges, insisting that Nigeria could no longer afford leadership that, in his view, had failed to deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of citizens.

He said, “Today we have a country that produces the highest number of poor people in the world. Today we have a country where our people are hungry, Nigerians don’t know where the next meal will come from anymore.

“In Nigeria today, if you are sick, instead of going to hospital, you go to church because there is no hospital, so you can only pray for God to save you. We have a country where there are no schools. We have a country where youths are looking for jobs, but no jobs.

“What do we want to do? We are telling you that NDC is coming to build a new Nigeria that is possible. We want to move Nigeria from consumption to production.”

Obi also questioned the purpose of the loans obtained by the Federal Government, demanding that the President provide Nigerians with details of how the borrowed funds had been spent.

He said, “Our president has borrowed nearly $100 billion, nobody knows what he did with the money, we want the president to come and explain to Nigerians what he used the money he borrowed to do in the past three years.

“He said he’s busy, he has been busy for the past three years going overseas, now we went into a campaign, he said he is busy. APC government is incompetent, APC government doesn’t have the capacity. They don’t have compassion, they cannot be chosen.”

The NDC presidential candidate further urged Nigerians to support his party’s proposed alternative, saying it would prioritise production as a strategy for addressing the country’s economic difficulties.

News October 30, 2026 Kano governor reshuffles cabinet, reassigns 2 commissioners

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, has reshuffled his cabinet, redeploying two commissioners to new ministries while assigning portfolios to six newly appointed members of the State Executive Council.

The minor cabinet adjustment was announced on Friday in a statement issued by the governor’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature, in Kano.

Under the new arrangement, the former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi-Waiya, has been moved to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Similarly, Hamza Kachako, who previously headed the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Mineral Resources, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Environment.

The governor’s spokesman said the ministries previously occupied by the two commissioners would remain without substantive commissioners pending further decisions by the state government.

“Following the reshuffle, the Ministries of Information and Internal Affairs, as well as that of Solid Minerals and Mineral Resources, remain vacant pending further decisions by the state government,” he said.

In another development, the governor assigned portfolios to six newly appointed commissioners who were recently sworn into the State Executive Council.

The appointees include retired Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u, who will oversee the Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services; Ibrahim Namadi-Dala, Investment; and Prof. Sani Lawan-Manunfashi, Higher Education.

Others are Mukhtar Ishaq-Yakasai, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Dr Aminu Ibrahim-Tsanyawa, Science and Technology; and Idris Garba-Mustapha, Special Duties.

The commissioners were sworn in alongside three advisers and 19 Permanent Secretaries.

Yusuf said the appointments and changes in ministerial responsibilities were designed to strengthen government institutions, enhance administrative effectiveness and reposition strategic ministries for improved service delivery.

He urged the newly inaugurated commissioners, advisers and Permanent Secretaries to discharge their duties with dedication, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility.

The governor also called on the appointees to place public interest above personal considerations and contribute meaningfully to the development of Kano State.

He further urged them to work together in implementing his administration’s development agenda and ensuring that residents benefit from democratic governance.

Yusuf congratulated the appointees and wished them success in their respective assignments.

News October 30, 2026 Labour moves to secure N70,000 transport allowance for state workers

Organised labour unions across several states have intensified efforts to persuade their respective governments to implement the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public sector workers, with some state chapters seeking higher payments to reflect local economic conditions.

The development follows an agreement between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to introduce a six-month transport support package beginning in November 2026 to cushion the effects of rising living costs on workers.

While some state labour leaders are demanding that their governments adopt the N70,000 benchmark, others are pushing for higher allowances, depending on the cost of transportation and the financial capacity of their states.

In Lagos State, the NLC Chairperson, Agnes Sesi, said the union would formally approach the state government to negotiate a monthly allowance of N100,000 for workers.

She argued that the high cost of transportation, accommodation, feeding and other essential expenses in Lagos justified an allowance above the Federal Government’s proposed package.

Sesi, however, maintained that workers should not receive less than the N70,000 negotiated for their federal counterparts.

She said, “If the NLC is asking for N70,000, it should cut across states. If the state government cannot do more, we do not expect them to do less because of Lagos peculiarity.

“In fact, we are even expecting the state government to increase ours to N100,000 because of our sacrifices and resilience. But if they cannot do more than the N70,000, we are not expecting anything less.

“Transportation is expensive in Lagos. Livelihoods are high, accommodation is high, and feeding is on the high side. Everything is on the high side in Lagos State,” she added.

The labour leader also urged the state government to commence implementation promptly rather than allow the payments to accumulate as outstanding arrears.

“We don’t want the government to drag its feet on it. We don’t want this to enter into arrears.”

In Kaduna State, the NLC Chairman, Ayuba Magaji, said the union would demand at least N70,000 monthly for workers and had commenced arrangements to formally engage Governor Uba Sani on the matter.

According to him, the national secretariat had circulated directives encouraging state and local government chapters to approach their respective administrations for discussions on adopting the initiative.

He said, “We have received a circular from the national headquarters of the Congress. As I am talking to you, my secretary and I are making arrangements, and immediately after this programme, he will write a letter to the government to intimate it about this and the need for us to commence discussions immediately,” he said.

Similarly, the Benue State NLC Chairman, Terungwa Igbe, said the union would insist on the N70,000 allowance, although it was yet to receive an official communication from the national secretariat.

The state government, however, said discussions on the proposed package had not commenced. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, nevertheless expressed confidence that Governor Hyacinth Alia would support initiatives aimed at reducing the financial burden on residents.

In Bayelsa, the NLC Chairman, Barnabas Simon, insisted that workers in the state should benefit from the agreement, arguing that the economic challenges confronting the state were not different from those experienced elsewhere in the country.

He said, “Bayelsa State is not operating a different economy from other states. We are not living under a separate economic system. Whatever affects other states also affects Bayelsa. Therefore, Bayelsa should not be left out of the implementation of the resolution.”

In Kebbi State, the labour union has begun lobbying members of the State House of Assembly to support its proposed transport allowance, which would range between N40,000 and N70,000 monthly.

The state NLC Chairman, Murtala Usman, explained that the final amount would depend on the government’s financial capacity and the different categories of workers.

“I have already commenced lobbying for it. I was at the state House of Assembly on Thursday to speak with some lawmakers on how they can support us when the discussion begins,” Usman added.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State NLC Chairman, Ademola Olopade, said the union planned to meet with the state government to discuss implementation of the agreement.

He ruled out the possibility of the state chapter negotiating terms outside the position already reached by the national leadership.

“We can’t go contrary to what the national body has negotiated with the Federal Government. Don’t forget the TUC came up with another idea; they were not part of the decision. But we at the NLC, there’s no way I can do anything contrary to the agreement between the NLC and the government on the N70,000,” he said.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, said the government would implement its transport relief arrangement in line with the agreement between the Federal Government and organised labour.

In Edo State, the NLC caretaker committee Chairman, Prof. Monday Igbafen, disclosed that the union would begin discussions with the government on extending the N70,000 package to workers.

He, however, indicated that industrial action was not imminent unless the government refused to cooperate with the union.

In Rivers State, the NLC said it had written to the state government requesting a meeting on the proposed allowance.

The state NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, said, “For us in the state, we have already written to the state government on what has been agreed between the Federal Government during the meeting with our leaders.”

However, the state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Samuel Ogan, questioned the sustainability of the intervention, arguing that a temporary six-month allowance would not adequately address workers’ economic difficulties.

He said, “It’s a good gesture, but the TUC is saying the economic hardship is beyond the N70,000 or palliative, and that it is not sustainable in the sense that it’s for a short period of six months.

“We want a situation where the government increases the wage of the workers beyond the current wage. In fact, what they are proposing, let it be there before we even go and discuss the new wage,” he added.

In Gombe State, the NLC Chairman, Yusuf Bello, said the union had received instructions from its national headquarters and would formally approach the state government.

He said, “There is a directive from the national headquarters and we will write to them (Gombe State Government). We can’t push for less than N70,000, and from there, we will go and relate with our executives.”

The Niger State NLC chapter has also taken steps towards engaging the government, although its chairman, Idris Lafene, said formal negotiations had yet to begin because the Head of Service was unavailable.

In Abia State, the NLC Chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro, said the union would pursue the N70,000 allowance for the agreed six-month period while ensuring that the intervention did not interfere with ongoing minimum wage negotiations.

He said the union would approach the state government after receiving further guidelines from the Federal Government.

Responding, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said it was too early for the government to make a definite statement without the implementation details.

“Let us wait until the Federal Government rolls out the details for us to know how it will be,” he said.

Labour leaders in Sokoto and Kano states also said they were awaiting official directives from their national headquarters before opening discussions with their respective governments.

In Osun State, however, the TUC Chairman, Abimbola Fasasi, said organised labour had been engaging Governor Ademola Adeleke on measures to reduce the economic pressure on workers.

He attributed part of the hardship confronting local government workers to the non-release of allocations to local government areas in the state since February 2025.

“We have been engaging the governor and appealing to him to find something to do for our people due to the hike in petrol pump prices. Also, the seizure of local government allocations in Osun State has caused a lot of hardship,” Fasasi said.

In Ogun State, the TUC Chairman, Akeem Lasisi, said organised labour had yet to initiate discussions on the new Federal Government package, as its immediate priority was persuading the state government to extend its existing N10,000 monthly transport support to more public officers.

He said, “Organised Labour has not initiated discussions on this, but we have been engaging the government on ways to ease the suffering of workers across the state. One proposal is to extend the N10,000 transport relief currently offered to public officers in the state. We shall meet next week to discuss the next course of action,” he said.

The negotiations across the states come ahead of the planned November commencement of the Federal Government’s six-month transport relief intervention.

(PUNCH)

News October 30, 2026 Rising cost of living: FG begins N50,000 monthly relief payments to poor Nigerians

The Federal Government is set to begin monthly payments of N50,000 to selected vulnerable households under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the initiative was designed to provide financial relief to Nigerians facing economic difficulties.

Doro explained that selected beneficiaries would receive text messages from designated telecommunications service providers seeking their consent before the money is transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.

“This message is genuine. Once consent is given, payment is made directly to the beneficiary’s account/mobile wallet,” Doro said.

He described NERSI as a complementary intervention to the Federal Government’s existing social protection and economic support programmes.

According to him, the initiative underscores the government’s determination to provide immediate assistance to vulnerable citizens while strengthening household resilience and promoting economic stability under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We recognise the challenges many Nigerians are facing. The ministry is committed to delivering this intervention with dignity, transparency and accountability,” he said.

The minister cautioned prospective beneficiaries against falling victim to fraudsters, stressing that participation in the programme does not require an application, payment of fees or registration through intermediaries.

“Never share your PIN or BVN with anyone,” he cautioned.

He further advised Nigerians who have doubts about messages purportedly relating to the programme, or anyone asked to make payments to access the intervention, to verify such information through the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.

Doro also disclosed that the programme would undergo periodic reviews to accommodate changes in the cost of living. He added that beneficiaries would receive direct notifications before any adjustments to the intervention are implemented.

Information published on the NERSI portal indicates that beneficiaries are selected through verified national identity records and the National Social Register, with priority given to poor and vulnerable households.

The portal identifies ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank and NairaGram as approved payment channels for the programme.

It further explains that the intervention is being rolled out in phases, meaning eligible beneficiaries may receive their notifications at different times.

Under the programme’s guidelines, recipients can access their funds through mobile wallets, transfer the money to their bank accounts or withdraw through designated agents, although applicable transaction charges may apply.

News October 30, 2026 Obasanjo knocks Tinubu over borrowing policy, says debt worse than leprosy

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s position on government borrowing, describing as “absolute nonsense” the president’s assertion that borrowing should not be regarded as a negative practice.

Obasanjo made his position known on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while speaking at the Ajibosin Platform, a public forum themed “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to solve grassroots problems and accelerate National Development.”

In April, Tinubu defended his administration’s decision to continue borrowing when necessary, arguing that loans were not inherently bad if the government worked hard to repay them.

The president made the remarks at the State House during a meeting with Plateau State leaders led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.

“If we have to borrow, we borrow. Borrowing is not leprosy, we just have to work hard to be able to pay for it,” the president had said.

However, responding to the president’s position, Obasanjo argued that the consequences of excessive borrowing were more damaging than those associated with leprosy, particularly because public debt could affect several generations.

The former president said: “And for anybody to say debt is no leprosy, is absolute nonsense. Debt is worse than leprosy. Because leprosy destroys only one person. Debt destroys generations.”

Obasanjo also expressed concern over Nigeria’s economic performance, particularly the sharp depreciation of the naira against the United States dollar over the years.

To illustrate the extent of the currency’s decline, he recalled the exchange rate when he established his farm nearly five decades ago.

“When I started my farm, 47 years ago, naira to the dollar was one naira to $1.85. Forty-seven years ago. What has Nigeria done in 47 years that we now have 1,500 naira to the dollar? What have we done?” he asked.

He further questioned the knowledge and decision-making capacity of the country’s political leaders, demanding to know what they understood about governance and how such knowledge could translate into better living conditions for Nigerians.

“What do our leaders know? And what do they not know? And from what they know, what can they do for us?” he asked.

The former president also faulted Nigeria’s reliance on international financial institutions, particularly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), arguing that their economic prescriptions might not adequately reflect the country’s peculiar needs and development challenges.

He maintained that the institutions were established before Nigeria gained independence and questioned their suitability in determining the country’s economic direction.

Recalling Nigeria’s agricultural policies, Obasanjo said the country was discouraged from providing certain forms of support to farmers despite similar interventions being available to agricultural producers in developed economies.

“World Bank and IMF were not designed for us. They were not built by us. They were built before we became independent. And that’s the people who would determine what we do,” he said.

Obasanjo also cautioned against the unquestioning adoption of economic policies recommended by foreign-trained experts, stressing the need for policymakers to consider Nigeria’s peculiar economic conditions when making decisions.

 

News October 30, 2026 Estate owner commits su!cide after disturbing farewell video, 2 insecticide bottles recovered

A 46-year-old businessman and owner of Esther Estate in Ondo State, Kayode Akinbolusere, popularly known as Tolufe, has died in a suspected suicide at his office in Igba town.

Akinbolusere reportedly died on Thursday, October 29, after allegedly ingesting a poisonous substance believed to be Sniper insecticide.

Before his death, the businessman reportedly recorded a video in which he spoke about his personal struggles and announced his decision to bequeath his properties to his wife, Esther, and their three children, who are based in Canada.

In the video, he said the decision was entirely his, explaining that nobody pressured him into making the will. He also acknowledged his wife’s support and sacrifices throughout his entrepreneurial journey.

He said: “I am doing this video on behalf of my family. I, Akinbolusere Kayode, am doing my will on my properties. I am doing this on my own; nobody put pressure on me. I woke up and left for work, leaving my family at home.

“The first and second machines I was using at work developed a fault. I was imagining what was happening. When I started my business, I started from scratch and was very transparent about it.

“My wife knew how I suffered. She didn’t trouble me. I will all my properties to my wife, Akinbolusere Esther, who hails from Ekiti, and my three children who are in Canada.

“My (wife) stood by me when I had nothing and never for once wronged me. She was very supportive when I had nothing, especially when I was working as a barber. I was the one who destroyed everything with carelessness,” Kayode stated.

Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command said it had commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the businessman’s death.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Friday.

According to the statement, the deceased, who lived at Road 7, Housing Estate, Igba, was found dead in his office beside BOVAS Petrol Station in Igba town at about 3pm on Thursday.

The statement read, “The Ondo State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Felix Ohagwu, has commenced an investigation into the suspected suicide of a 46-year-old man, identified as Akinbolusere Kayode, popularly known as Tolufe, who reportedly died in his office in Igba Town, Ondo State, on Thursday, 29th October 2026.

“The incident was reported following information received from members of the public that the deceased, a resident of Road 7, Housing Estate, Igba, had died in his office located beside BOVAS Petrol Station, Igba Town, at about 1500hrs on the said date.

“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives attached to Bolorunduro Division visited the scene, where two empty bottles suspected to have contained Sniper insecticide were recovered from nearby bush.

“Preliminary findings also revealed that the deceased had allegedly recorded a video before his death, which has since circulated on social media, in which he reportedly lamented about his life struggles.

“His remains were subsequently evacuated and deposited at the State Hospital Morgue for preservation and further examination. No foul play or visible marks of violence were observed on his body at the time of examination.”

The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, had directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident to determine the actual cause of death.

The commissioner also appealed to members of the public to avoid speculation while investigations were ongoing.

He further encouraged people facing emotional distress, marital difficulties or other personal challenges to seek appropriate support and assistance rather than take actions that could put their lives at risk.

Crime News October 30, 2026 Doris Ogala kneels before court, apologises, returns to Kirikiri

Nollywood actress Doris Ogala on Friday apologised to a Federal High Court in Lagos after kneeling before the judge over her conduct during an earlier court sitting.

Despite her apology, the actress was returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre after Justice Akintayo Aluko adjourned ruling on her bail application until November 6, 2026.

Ogala, who is facing charges bordering on alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor, expressed regret over her behaviour during Wednesday’s proceedings and assured the court that she would not repeat it.

Appearing before Justice Aluko, the actress pleaded for forgiveness, saying her detention was an experience she had never anticipated.

She said, “I am very sorry, my Lord. I apologise for my bad behaviour. I have never been to prison before and I wasn’t expecting that I would do that.

“I regret my actions and I apologise to my Lord. I tender my apologies wholeheartedly. Sorry, this will never happen again going forward.”

Her apology came after the judge criticised her conduct at the previous sitting, when she was allegedly heard shouting and singing inside the courtroom, forcing the court to suspend proceedings.

Justice Aluko said the disruption prevented the court from attending to more than seven other cases scheduled for hearing that day.

The judge disclosed that he had considered committing Ogala for contempt but decided against taking that step, despite describing her conduct as deserving of punishment.

He said, “She should have been given some form of imprisonment, right, on that day, but I kept my cool and I rose.”

The judge further observed that the actress could have faced at least two months’ imprisonment for obstructing court proceedings.

Expressing his displeasure, Aluko said, “Why do you have to start shouting and start singing in the open court? You conducted yourself in a manner that forced the court to rise. That’s what you did, and it’s already recorded.”

He also questioned why the defence lawyer failed to address the incident and explain his client’s behaviour before proceeding with arguments on the bail application.

The judge recalled that he had directed an accelerated hearing of the bail request and made arrangements for it to be considered within 48 hours.

He said he was disappointed that the courtroom disruption occurred despite the court’s efforts to expedite the matter.

Ogala’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, also apologised on behalf of his client, describing the incident as unfortunate and assuring the court that such behaviour was not typical of her.

Abubakar said he had known the actress for some time and was surprised by her conduct.

Following the apologies, the court heard arguments from both the defence and prosecution on the bail application.

Abubakar urged the court to grant his client bail, arguing that the prosecution had, through its counter-affidavit, indicated willingness to release her subject to certain conditions.

He maintained that the prosecution’s position suggested it was not opposed to bail but was concerned about the terms under which the actress would be released.

The defence lawyer argued that once the prosecution acknowledged that a defendant could be admitted to bail, the court should exercise its discretion by imposing reasonable conditions.

He urged the judge to avoid conditions that could unnecessarily restrict Ogala’s liberty, citing relevant judicial authorities and legal provisions to support his position.

However, the prosecution counsel, Tolulope Mokolu, asked the court to impose stringent bail conditions, citing concerns about the actress’s social media activities.

Mokolu argued that Ogala’s continued use of social media could expose witnesses to undue influence and interfere with the administration of justice.

Although acknowledging her constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, the prosecution maintained that those rights were not absolute.

It therefore urged the court to restrict her access to witnesses and their addresses and prohibit social media publications capable of influencing witnesses or compromising the proceedings.

The prosecution also requested appropriate sanctions should the actress violate any of the proposed bail conditions.

After listening to both parties, Justice Aluko fixed November 6, 2026, for ruling on the bail application. Ogala was subsequently returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the court’s decision.

The actress was arraigned on Wednesday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on three counts bordering on alleged cyberbullying, cyberstalking and attempted extortion involving Pastor Okafor.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences were committed between September 2024 and March 2026.

Mokolu told the court that Ogala allegedly shared nude and intimate photographs of Okafor on her social media accounts without his consent, exposing him to embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational damage.

The actress, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Meanwhile, Abubakar has indicated plans to petition the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, seeking the withdrawal of the charges against his client.

The lawyer, who spoke after Friday’s proceedings, described the case as a private dispute arising from a failed relationship and argued that the criminal prosecution violated Ogala’s fundamental rights.

He said, “I strongly believe that the arrest of Doris Ogala, the investigation as far as this matter is concerned, and the subsequent filing of charges against her are an affront to her fundamental rights.

“The subject matter that led to this entire transaction in this matter was purely a matter between a boyfriend and a girlfriend. Where former lovers fell apart, and one of the lovers felt cheated, and she reacted through the platform that she has.”

He argued that the government should not ordinarily intervene in private disagreements of that nature, insisting that citizens had the right to express their grievances.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, these are private issues and private matters that the state ordinarily should not involve itself with. Nigerians have a fundamental right to express their grievances and express themselves in manners that they deem fit and appropriate.

“The idea of criminalising free speech in this country has been contemptuous. We will never shy away from condemning the idea behind having a law that seeks to, or has, a chilling effect on Nigerians as it relates to how they should express themselves in a democracy.”

Abubakar further argued that individuals who believed their reputations had been damaged by defamatory statements should seek remedies through civil litigation rather than criminal prosecution.

He maintained that democratic societies must accommodate criticism and dissent, even when such expressions are considered offensive.

“Democracy accepts dissent. Democracy accepts even vulgar abuses where a person feels strongly defamed by the utterances of a person who has exercised his right under the law as it relates to their fundamental rights to express themselves.

“The natural remedy for such a person is to file a civil matter under the tort of defamation. If I feel strongly defamed by the utterances of a particular person, what I naturally would want to do is to go to court, where my integrity and reputation can be put on the line,” he said.

The lawyer also condemned the use of law enforcement agencies to arrest individuals over alleged insults or criticism, arguing that such practices were inconsistent with democratic principles.

He called for the removal of provisions of the Cybercrimes Act which, in his view, criminalise freedom of expression.

Recalling legal challenges instituted in 2022 against provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, particularly Section 24, Abubakar said two separate court judgments had declared aspects of the provision unconstitutional for violating freedom of expression and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He noted that the National Assembly subsequently amended the Act in 2024 to address concerns over the criminalisation of free speech.

However, he alleged that security agencies had continued to enforce the law without adequately taking the amendments into account.

The lawyer further accused some influential individuals and public officials of deploying law enforcement agencies to intimidate critics, warning that such actions threatened democratic freedoms.

He said, “Today, when you insult somebody who is a man of means, or you insult a government official who has done something very bad, the same government official will simply approach the police and give them money to arrest and detain such an individual. In a democracy, this should never be.”

Asked whether he would formally challenge the prosecution, Abubakar said he planned to write directly to the Attorney-General, urging him to intervene and discontinue the case.

He said, “It is also my honest belief that this matter should be discontinued and the charges withdrawn. In that regard, I will be filing an application to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General to withdraw this charge because it ought not to have been filed in the first place.”

He added that the move would be pursued in the interest of justice, maintaining that the disagreement should not have resulted in criminal charges against a Nigerian citizen.

(PUNCH)