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PSC Chair Visits Human Rights Commission, endorses collaborative partnership

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By Ebinum Samuel

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni, has continued his advocacy for respect for human rights of Nigerian citizens and recognition/protection of the rights of victims of crime.

DIG Argungu and a strong delegation from the PSC was at the Corporate Headquarters of the Human Rights Commission in Abuja where he met with the Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, and Members of the Management team.

He remembered his days as a Member of the Anti SARS Panel that sat at the Human Rights Commission office where he noted the cooperation he enjoyed throughout his membership. He however remarked that more efforts are still required of the Human Rights body to cripple human rights abuses in Nigeria.

The PSC Chairman mentioned extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, searching and detention, sexual abuses as some of the issues still haunting the nation’s Human Rights record which he charged the Commission to find a way to mitigate or eliminate.

DIG Argungu also frowned at the parade of suspects in chains and neglect of victims of crime.
He called for balancing of the Justice system where attention should also be given to victims of crime and not only the suspects.

The PSC Chairman said it was a mockery of the criminal justice system stressing that some of the Nigerian laws are obsolete and needed fresh impetus.

The PSC Chairman welcomed a collaborative partnership with the Human Rights Commission and announced that PSC will henceforth involve them in its recruitment processes.

The Executive Secretary in his remarks told his visitors that the Human Rights Commission is building a digitalised platform for the processing of human rights cases and noted that the platform will be linked to the Commission so that the two government Agencies will in partnership take the war against abuses to the next level.

Dr. Ojukwu said the nation can not continue to watch the abuse of the human rights of citizens and appealed to the PSC Chairman to partner with his Commission to give the nation something to cheer.

According to Ikechukwu Ani, the image maker of PSC, Ojukwu hoped that with DIG Argungu who was a member of the Panel on the Anti SARs riot, as Chairman of the PSC, most of the unresolved cases would be brought to conclusion.

Again, Makinde Speaks On 2027 Presidential Ambition As Adeleke, Ortom, Damagum Visit Oyo State

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stated that he alone will decide the course of his political future, responding to speculation about a possible presidential bid in 2027.Addressing recent claims that the ruling party is interfering with other political groups to stifle opposition, Makinde disagreed with such accusations, urging opposition leaders to focus on internal unity and collaboration to strengthen Nigeria.He emphasized that the upcoming election would be a contest between the ruling party and the Nigerian people.Makinde made these remarks during the inauguration of the newly constructed Olusoji Adagunodo Southwest Zonal Secretariat. The event was attended by PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke, former Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), members of the party’s National Working Committee, and other regional leaders.Makinde said, “ What they normally say is, it is not how long, but how well. My dear brother, the late Soji Adagunodo, was with us for a very short period, but he made a very significant impact on the politics of the Southwest of Nigeria.

My brother, Governor Adeleke, I want to appreciate you today for being here.“We had our issues; we were fighting ourselves, especially for the control of Zonal Excos. My dear brother, Governor Adeleke, thank you for being part of this; it shows your magnanimity. That means whatever has happened in the past is behind us.“Dr. Eddy Olafeso is here. We fought. That is the spirit of PDP. Let me also specially recognise my brother, the next Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Agboola Ajayi.“This time, two weeks from today, Ondo State people will be in the process of electing him as their next governor. This is 2 pm. Two hours after this time, the results will have started coming out, validating him as the next governor of Ondo State.“Those of you thinking that the only way to achieve your dream is for division to be in the PDP, well, the Southwest of Nigeria is leading the way. My brother, Adebutu, your own time will also come.

I said it before that when we look at Nigeria, if the Southwest is united, Nigeria will unite.“The two PDP governors who are in the Southwest are here together. All our leaders are here. Also from outside of the Southwest, they are also here.“Governor Ikpeazu from the Southeast, thank you for identifying with us. Governor Ortom from the north central is here. Thank you for identifying with us.“I only have one message, just one thing to say. Yes, we have done this to keep the memory of our brother, Honourable Soji Adagunodo. I want the truth for your state. I just want to make him a legacy. Your wish has been granted today.“I just want to make an announcement. Also, Soji Adagunodo Jr., you will get your letter as Special Advisor to me on regional integration. I also want to thank Governor Adeleke for loaning him to me.”He said further “ People have been complaining, they have been talking, they have been doing a lot of permutation. Let me say this again. I will say it by myself. Nobody will set an agenda for me apart from myself.“They have also been talking—the ruling party, all the parties.

Let me say this: If you are accusing the ruling party that they are the ones putting their hands into all other parties to ensure that they don’t get their hearts together so that there will be no opposition in 2027, my own position is that there are certain things that you have under your own control.“Whether I and Governor Adeleke will cooperate for the growth and benefit of our party in the Southwest states, it is beyond the ruling party. It is between me and Governor Adeleke. So please, let us all work together; unite our base; that is all that we need to do.“The next election will be APC versus Nigerians. It is not even about APC versus PDP.

So let us do our own bit to unite our party, unite our base, and let the people of Nigeria, let them speak.”The secretariat, funded personally by Governor Makinde, is dedicated to the late Olusoji Adagunodo, a former Southwest PDP chairman.Following Adagunodo’s passing, Makinde had pledged to construct a memorial in his honor.During the event, he also announced the appointment of Adagunodo’s son as his Special Adviser on Regional Integration.

N4.4billion worth cocaine seized at Lagos airport as NDLEA grills 30 suspects

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Intercepts UK, UAE, Australia-bound cocaine, cannabis, tramadol concealed in body cream containers, art work

By Ebinum Samuel

The bid by members of an international drug syndicate that operates between Brazil, Ethiopia and Nigeria to smuggle into Lagos a total of 845 wraps of cocaine weighing 18.72 kilograms has been thwarted and the consignments recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.


The drug consignments worth Four Billion Four Hundred and Ninety-Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,492,800,000) in street value were recovered from two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft during the post landing cleaning of the cabin of flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on Tuesday 29th October 2024.
The illicit drug consignments were wrapped in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft, from where they were recovered after the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA was alerted about the strange objects. No fewer than 30 suspects have so far been grilled in connection with the seizure.
Investigations revealed that the seized drugs were conveyed from Brazil to Ethiopia through ingestion and excreted in Addis Ababa by a set of couriers while some other traffickers picked them up and attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria through the Lagos airport before their attempt was frustrated with the cooperation of the airline’s authorities and other airport stakeholders.
In the same vein, attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 2.928kg cocaine, cannabis and tramadol 225mg concealed in body cream containers, and pieces of art work to Australia, United Arab Emirate and United Kingdom through some courier companies in Lagos were also blocked by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, on Monday 28th October.


At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 29th October intercepted 754, 000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen 225mg worth Five Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Naira (N525, 000,000) in a targeted and watch-listed container from India during a joint examination with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, a suspect Mujahid Hamisu, 24, was arrested with 147,000 pills of tramadol concealed in black nylon bags containing plumbing materials along Kwali-Gwagwalada Abuja expressway on his way from Onitsha, Anambra state on Saturday 2nd November 2024, while another suspect Seun Abimbola, 47, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Giri junction area of the FCT.


In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Kabba- Obajana highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja while a search of her luggage led to the recovery of fake Naira notes worth Four Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand ,Two Hundred Naira (₦ 4,353,200), even as another suspect Shaibu Dahiru, 27, was nabbed in a vehicle coming from Lagos to Katsina along Lokoja- Okene- Abuja road on Thursday 30th October with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.400kg
A notorious drug dealer Usman Abba (alias Timaya) who has been on the watchlist of the Katsina state command of NDLEA was on Wednesday 30th October arrested at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura with consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis. Same day, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa arrested a suspect Augustine Dike, 31, with 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.
In Taraba, operatives on Friday 1st November arrested Danlami Fakwa, 46, at Sabon Gari, Jalingo LGA, with 49.795kg cannabis, while a total of 561kg of same substance was recovered from a Sienna bus at Ogbese village in Ondo state on Monday 28th October.
A suspect Kabiru Yusuf, 25, was on Saturday 2nd October arrested in possession of 51,813 pills of tramadol and exol 5 at NDA Bus Stop, Kaduna, just as raids in Edo state led to the seizure of 603.6kg cannabis at Farm road, Ekiadolor and 308.4kg of same substance at Uroe community.


Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week. Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Sanganare, Adamawa; students of College of Arts and Islamic Studies, Tungan Magajiya, Niger state; students and staff of Regina Catholic International College, Obehie, Abia state; students and teachers of Akinmorin Grammar School, Oyo, Oyo state; as well as students and teachers of Redeemer’s International School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Apapa, Kogi, FCT, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Ondo, Taraba, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.

Kidnapper: This Man Is Powerful, I Think He Has Spiritual Power. He’s Small But Mighty – Adejobi Muyiwa

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Adejobi Muyiwa, the Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Police Force, recently paraded Ibrahim Shehu, a suspected kidnapper known 

as “Small But Mighty,” and detailed his activities

In a live coverage 

by Voice TV Nigeria from 0:12, Muyiwa disclosed that Shehu, who resides in Kogi State with his family, engages in criminal operations across multiple states, including Kano, Katsina, Niger, and Kaduna. Muyiwa mentioned that he believes Shehu holds some level of “spiritual powers”. He applauded the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for their determination in apprehending Shehu.

Muyiwa further stated that criminals who believe they are protected by “juju” or “voodoo” powers can never be more powerful than the government. He said no one is beyond the 

government’s reach, and criminals involved in unlawful activities, regardless of their supernatural protection, will eventually be brought to justice.

In Muyiwa’s words: “This man is very powerful, I think he has some spiritual powers. I want to give kudos to the spiritual operatives of IRT for going after a spiritual criminal to get him for us. It is not easy. So gentlemen of the press, this is Ibrahim Shehu. Unfortunately he is from Kogi State and he is doing evils in Kogi State. This man resides in Kogi with his family but he goes as far as Kano, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna to operate. He is small but mighty. Shehu Ibrahim aka Small But Mighty. This is him, we have gotten him and this is a warning to anyone outside there venturing into criminal activities, no matter how powerful you are, no matter the juju or voodoo you have, you cannot be more powerful than the government. We will surely get you”.

Wife stabs husband to death over lock of bedroom

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Residents of Gbeyi, in Adegbayi, Ibadan , Oyo State 

woke up yesterday to a shock and disbelief on hearing that a 33-year-old Comfort Olalere Tinubu, had stabbed her husband, Olusegun Tinubu, 39, to death on Wednesday night around 10pm.It was gathered that the couple who got married about three years ago had two children from the marriage.The matter which stem from an argument on the wife locking the husband out of the bedroom later resulted in fight which saw the wife stabbing the husband at the back.

The source who pleaded anonymity, said: “I got the call around 10:03pm and I learnt that they fought and she stabbed him but that he was rushed to the hospital. About 30mins later, I was called again that my younger brother is dead.“When we reported the matter at the police station, she was asked what happened; she said her late husband accused her of locking the matrimonial bedroom door since around 7am when she left the house and returning about 7pm.

“She said the matter led to argument between them but that fight started when the late husband came to slap her where she laid down breastfeeding their baby.”

According to the source, another relative of the husband who is living with the couple was said to have interfere in the fight and separated them.The relative, was said to be staying with the couple because he was receiving medical treatment“After settling the fight, he went back to his room asking the husband to sleep in the living room. But, not done it was gathered that Comfort went to attack the husband where he was lying down in the sitting room and stabbed him at the back with the knife. The husband was said to have screamed for help and slumped and later confirmed dead by the time he got to the hospital.

The matter was initially reported at Gbagi Police station but the case was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan,” he narrated.

A female resident medical doctor in Kaduna State who was abducted by bandits in December 2023 has regained her freedom after being held captive for 10 long months

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A female resident medical doctor at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State, Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted by bandits in December 2023, has regained her freedom after being held captive for 10 long monthsNewsmen recalls that Popoola, a Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, was kidnapped alongside her husband, Nurudeen Popoola, who is a military officer and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugni who lives with them.The abductors had earlier demanded a whopping N40 million ransom, which was paid after which they released her husband on March 8, 2024, and still refused to release Dr Popoola and her nephew.

Popoola and her nephew were however freed on Wednesday evening, bringing an end to their terrifying ordeal in the hands of their abductorsReacting to the development, the President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Tope Osundara, expressed immense joy and relief, thanking everyone who contributed to their safe return.The kidnapping of the medical doctor and her family members highlights the growing concern about incessant abductions and ransom demands by kidnappers in the country.

Argungu At Senate Public Hearing, Says Police Service Commission Will Serve As A Global Forum For Civilian Oversight

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By Ebinum Samuel

A public Hearing on two Bills , a bill for an Act to establish the Police Service Commission Training Institute (Establisment) Bill, 2024 and a Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Police Force Training Institutions (Establisment) Bill, 2024 was held on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 at one of the Senate Hearing Rooms of the National Assembly in Abuja.Presenting the position of the Police Service Commission, the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni who led the PSC team said the training Institute will serve as a global forum of Civilian Oversight bodies on the Police and by extension a biannual Police Service Commission Conference Centre.According to Ikechukwu Ani , the Commission’s Spokesman, DIG Argungu said the Institute will also be a focal point for training of the personnel of the Commission in Nigeria and other countries that have similar Police Oversight bodies such as Ghana, Kenya, South-Africa, Canada etc.

The PSC Chairman noted that the proposed Institute is aimed at ensuring the impartation of protocols, charter, treaty on trainees to bring out strategies for effective oversight activities in the Nigeria Police ForceHe explained that the Staff of the Commission need to know more than enough about the Police and its operations to successfully carry out its laudable functions of oversight.

DIG Argungu said there was need for the training Institute like other oversight bodies such as the Judicial Service Commission, Civil Service Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ” that set the required standard for training and retraining of their personnel in line with International best practices “.

He commended the President of the Senate, the Deputy President, the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Members of the Committee and other Members of the National Assembly “for deeming it fit to come up with this laudable idea of establishing the Police Service Commission Training Institute”.

According to the PSC Chairman the training Institute “will go a long way in making the working of the Commission seamless, tension free and result oriented “DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd, fdc, Honourable Commissioner in the Commission, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary to the Commission and Management Staff of the Commission were part of the PSC delegation to the public Hearing.

PSC Promotes Four Police Officers In Police Academy Who Acquired PhD Certificates

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says others with additional qualifications will be considered soon

By Ebinum Samuel

The Police Service Commission today, Tuesday, October 29th 2024, promoted four Police Officers currently teaching at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, who have successfully completed different academic programmes and acquired PhD certificates.

The Officers, who appeared before the Commission today; are CSP Favour Fadawag; Inspector Shide Sunday; Inspector Oparaji Benjamin Chetachi Ukwu and Inspector Benjamin Wanger.

CSP Fadawag was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police while the three Inspectors were promoted to Assistant Superintendents of Police for now until they are confirmed for further proper placement.

PSC Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd mni, who presided over the extraordinary Management Meeting of the Commission said other Police Officers with additional professional certificates and have been engaged in such professional duties such as Lawyers will soon be upgraded in line with the public Service requirements.

DIG Argungu said the Commission will henceforth encourage merit and personal development as motivation to greater dedication and commitment to duty.

He noted that the Commission will continue to promote transparency and accountability in the conduct of its constitutional mandate and assured serving Police Officers that their welfare including proper placement will receive the Commission’s attention.

The PSC Chairman said all lecturers in the Police Academy who have additional certificates will be considered for promotion. He also announced that while the Commission gives attention to Police welfare, it will not fail to fight corruption not only in the Commands, Departments etc but also in Police Colleges and the Academy.

DIG Argungu said the Commission’s policy on whistle blowing will soon be taken to the Police Academy and all the Police Colleges and anyone found with corrupt tendencies will be sanctioned. “We have to expose the enemies of our country, anyone found collecting money for admission into the Academy or recruitment into the Police will be dealt with according to the law of the land”, he remarked.

He congratulated the newly promoted Officers and charged them to go and give off their best in the service of their fatherland.

The Commission Spokesman, Ikechukwuu Ani, disclosed that DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd, commended the Chairman for his remarkable courage to pull through the promotion of the Officers with PhD certificates and had continued to lecture with Inspector ranks.

DIG Lakanu said he will continue to stand by him and ensure that the Commission succeeds in turning around the Nigeria Police Force for the better.

Lagos CP, Ishola, Harps On Intelligence-Led Policing

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By Ebinum Samuel

In his avowal to secure Lagos, the state commissioner of police, Mr Olarewaju Olawale Ishola has began a process to address intelligence failure on policing in the Center of Excellence.
A source close to the police confirmed to Newstower.ng that the police chief, in his proactive measure, last weekend, met with his top commanders to put in place steps that will find a panacea to intelligence failure that he allegedly said is the bane of policing over the years.


“Our CP , a result-oriented officer , would not put the cart before the horse in crime busting methodology. He is one who wants officers to be more proactive than reactive. He wants a situation whereby criminals are nipped in the bud while perfecting their plans to hit their targets. This why he’s desirous of addressing intelligence failure in securing the lives and property in the state” said an officer who craved anonymity.


At the command headquarters in Ikeja GRA, officers from various departments and most police stations have been warned by the CP’s office, to, as a matter of great concern, embark on moves that will make intelligence failure a thing of the past.
The source said that the CP is of the belief that until this issue is resolved, crimes perpetrated in state will continue to rear its ugly head unabated.
Meanwhile, the officer in charge of the State Criminal Intelligence Department, SCID, Yaba, DCP Ahmed Lateef, has ordered his operatives to comb some notorious areas in order to clamp down on suspected hoodlums. His order has led to the nabbing of no fewer than 15 suspects, and recovery of dangerous weapons.
” We are very sure that the CP move to address the anomaly in policing in the state will be a permanent solution to the issue of crime and criminality in the state, if all officers will be resilience and forthcoming in this agenda of our ingenious CP ” said a top cop .

PSC Chair X-rays Importance Of Cooperative Societies In This Trying Period In Nigeria –says it will help improve living standards of Members

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By Ebinum Samuel

As the nation grapples with the current global economic melt down, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni has xrayed the importance of Cooperative Societies in the improvement of the living standards of Commission Staff.

DIG Argungu this morning, Friday, October 25th 2024, spoke to Members of the PSC Cooperative Society and Management Staff of the Commission where he admonished Members to imbibe the Cooperative motto to live by and to make life better, stressing ” it can be something that encourages you when things are tough, or it can be a reminder to stay positive and on track”.

The PSC Chairman said with the Cooperative Society, it is “each for all and all for each” and self help through mutual aid”

He noted that Cooperative Societies in Nigeria have tremendously improved the living standards of their Members through provision of skills, training and development aspects, job opportunities and financial assistance by reducing the poverty level of its Members and Communities.

The PSC Chairman told his audience that Cooperative Societies encourage joint entrepreneurship, forster healthy competition, help fight inflation, teach morality and enhances skill improvement.

He said it also assists in improving quality of life, promote employment, reduce poverty and promote social and economic development on a national scale amongst other core benefits.

He encouraged PSC staff to believe and promote the ideals of Cooperatives stressing that it is a veritable tool to survive in this trying times.