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#EndSARS Aftermath: Gbajabiamila visits sites of damaged properties in Surulere, Lagos
…commends police for restoring law and order
…Constituents recount ordeals

The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday visited the sites of damaged public and private facilities in his Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in Lagos.
The Speaker, whose visit came after the looting spree that took place in Surulere following the reactions to the #EndSARS Lekki tollgate shootings, addressed the residents at Shitta Roundabout, Surulere, visited affected shops and the Bode Thomas Police Station.
In his address to residents and traders who gathered at the Shitta area of Surulere, Gbajabiamila assured his constituents that the former anti-robbery team codenamed SARS has been totally disbanded by the president.
“You have all spoken, and the government heard you loud and clear. While in Abuja where you sent me to represent you, I heard all your complaints. All that happened in Lekki is what we have all seen and it is being investigated, but you see the social media has its good and bad until it’s fully unravelled that we can know the next step to take.”
“On the issue of EndSARS, you should all know that I am there for you as your representative. It’s all you want we are going to do. EndSARS cannot come up again, because there is no more SARS. You see all that happened at Adeniran Ogunsanya and Bode Thomas, I can boast that it was not carried out by children from Surulere, we all know they came from outside Surulere because I know my own people. Surulere shall continue to prosper by the grace of God”, Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker proceeded from Shitta to Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall where he spoke to many business owners who gave various accounts of how the damages done to their businesses were executed.
According to a business owner at AOS Mall, Mr. Oladimeji Ogunniyi, the looters carried out the ugly exercise despite the darkness in the mall.
“The looting of this mall started precisely 7:45am till 4pm, so what we did was that we advised the security in the mall to off the light so that they will be operating in darkness, thinking there may be restraint.
“You can see blood (stains) still on the ground. Immediately the mall lights were put off, they forced themselves into the glass and they sustained degrees of injuries. All the looting was done in the dark. We have over 100 shops in the mall and none was spared.
“All the items in my shops were taken. This is the only mall that gives indigenous and local entrepreneurs opportunity to operate, except for Shoprite, KFC and few others that are multinationals. In each shop, we have at least three staff,” Ogunniyi said.
A textile shop owner at Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Mrs. Fausat Shomade, told the Speaker that she has lost her source of livelihood.
“We don’t have any other thing that we eat except from this shop. This shop is loaded to the full of textile materials. It was only this few that we were able to recover from the police station,” she said tearfully.
The Speaker also visited damaged shops on Bode Thomas, Surulere and Bode Thomas Police Station where he was received by the Commander of Area C Police Command, Lagos, Tijani Fatai; the Divisional Police Officer of Bode Thomas, Ibrahim Fasesan and the Divisional Police Officer of Surulere, Adebowale Adeoya.
The Speaker sighted recovered items, including Shoprite trolleys at the Bode Thomas Police Station.
Gbajabiamila commended the officers of the Nigerian Police Force for restoring law and order in the area.
October 26, 2020
We’ve identified the barracks of soldiers who shot protesters in Lekki – Femi Falana
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said that the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 And Beyond (ASCAB) which he serves as Chairman of the group, has identified the barracks of the soldiers who opened fire on protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
Recall that on Tuesday, October 20, EndSARS protesters who had gathered at the Lekki-Victoria Island tollgate to stage their protest demanding an end to police brutality and a call for police reform, were shot at.
Speaking when he appeared as a guest on ARISE TV on Monday, October 26, Falana, said his group has been able to trace the barracks where the soldiers came from.
“We have already identified the barracks where the soldiers left for Lekki, we have already identified the barracks.
The President was likely to have been told, soldiers were ordered so I want to believe that’s why it was not addressed and they said it was a rumour but I think the facts are emerging now, that indeed soldiers went to Lekki, indeed they fired at protesters and indeed some of the protesters at least two have been officially acknowledged to have died from gunshot wounds.”Falana said
He said ASCAB would establish an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the October 20 shooting of protesters at Lekki toll plaza.
“ASCAB shall establish an Independent National Citizen’s Panel of Inquiry under a number of conditions Composition of the Citizen’s Panel of Inquiry shall comprise representatives of credible and identified organisations of the youth that took part in the #Endsars protest movement, including the Feminist Coalition, among others; representatives of credible and tested civil society organisations,” he said
October 26, 2020
#EndSARS protests: Gov. Makinde inaugurates N500m compensation fund
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has inaugurated a N500 million compensation fund for victims of injustice during the #EndSARS protests in the state.
Makinde made this known in Ibadan on Monday during a post-protest meeting held with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state.
The governor urged those who had suffered any form of injustice in the past or as a result of the #EndSARS protests, to take advantage of the platforms provided to log in their cases.
He noted that a Judicial Panel of Enquiry would be inaugurated in the next one week to look into cases of injustice meted out to the people.
“We know that the protests have been a result of anger among youths.
“We are aware of the economic situation, especially the reduced income of many due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also unemployment situation in the country,” he noted.
Makinde said that he had directed that a N500 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Fund be set up.
He said that the fund would be disbursed to youths who had bright entrepreneurial ideas that would provide further employment and improve the economic landscape of Oyo State.
The governor said: “I have directed the employment of 5,000 young persons across all government agency schemes over the next few months.
“The criteria for employment and the dates for assessment will be announced by the agency authorities.
“Going forward, starting from 2021, there will be provisions for the Direct Labour Agency in the budget.
“This will ensure more employment opportunities for residents who have requisite skills when projects are awarded.
“We will be proceeding with the fifth phase distribution of palliatives by the end of this week, having completed the verification of the individuals that are qualified for them.”
The governor gave the people of the state an assurance that his administration would continue to prioritise actions that would have positive impact on the youth.
Speaking on the purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting, Makinde said the meeting was not called to apportion blame or do a post-protest analysis but to chart a way forward by rubbing minds together.
He thanked the people of the state for their cooperation during the #EndSARS protests.
“Even when thugs and hoodlums decided to cause mayhem in some parts of our dear state, some of you stood up and repelled them.
“We had so many people called the 615 Emergency Contact Number because they were not interested in the destruction of lives and property.
“Because of your actions, our losses, both human and material, were minimal,” he said.
He gave an assurance that all criminal elements that engaged in wanton destruction of lives and property would be dealt with.
Makinde urged members of the Nigeria Police working in the state to step up their responsibilities in protecting lives and property.
He noted that trust was low right now but you could quickly regain public trust through your professional conduct.
The DIG South-West Zone, Oyeleye Oyebade and Brig.-Gen. Soji Ogunsugba, Garrison Commander, 2nd Division of the Nigerian Army attended the stakeholders’ meeting.
Others that attended the meeting were the Caretaker Chairmen in the 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Jimoh Ajagungbade; and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Oyetunji attended the meeting.
All the stakeholders condemned the violence, destruction of lives and property that characterised the #EndSARS protests.
They, however, called on government and other authorities to rise up and do the needful for the development of youths.
October 26, 2020
Police arrests 51 suspected looters in FCT
The police command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested 51 suspected looters and recovered some stolen items at Jabi-Daki-biu, Idu industrial Estate Karim area.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Ciroma, made the disclosure at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Ciroma explained that the operation that led to the arrest was neccessitated by the looting and destruction of public and private warehouses in the territory by some suspected hoodlums.
” It is on record that in the last two weeks, the FCT and other parts of the federation have witnessed various forms of protest and demonstration under different guise.
”Some of which have taken different colouration and dimensions which has resulted into loss of lives, destruction of property and looting.
” In the bid to ensure the protection of lives and property within the territory, the command has arrested 51suspected looters and recovered looted items,” he said.
The commissioner of police warned people involved in all forms of criminality to desist from such acts, especially looting and vandalisation of public property in the FCT.
He said that the command would not condone acts capable of undermining the safety of lives and property of residents in the territory.
He said that in compliance with the directive by the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, the command has deployed tactical strategies such as diligent motorised and foot patrols to curb crime in the FCT.
Ciroma also said that the command has also deployed personnels to secure key infrastructure in the territory in collaboration with sister security agencies and community stakeholders.
He appealed to residents to remain law abiding and calm.
October 26, 2020
Blasphemy: Court fixes Nov.26, for hearing of appeal against death sentence
A High Court sitting in Kano on Monday fixed Nov. 26, for hearing in an appeal filed by Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, 30, against the judgment of an Upper Sharia Court which condemned him to death for blasphemy.
Those joined in the suit are: Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the state’s Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General.
The appellant in a case No: CR/43/2020, prayed for the court relieve to set aside the lower court judgment, arguing that it was unconstitutional, null and void.
“Having grossly violated and conflicted with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
“Having violated the African Charter on human and people’s rights and the universal declaration of human right respectively.”
Sulieman Usman a representative of the appellant counsels, prayed for adjournment of the case to enable them appear before the court.
“The appellant lawyer are in Lagos, they served on a short notice on Oct. 22, we need more time to be in Kano,” he said.
However, Counsel to the respondent, Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, told the court that no Service Addresses were provided when they served with first motion and affidavit.
“We made attempt to serve on time but there was no address. We will serve the appellant now through courier so that they can have the opportunity to go through and respond before the next adjourned date.
“We are not opposing the adjournment date earlier prayed by the appellant,” Abdullahi-Lawan said.
The court, therefore, adjourned the case to Nov. 26, for hearing.
An Upper Sharia Court had on Aug. 10, sentenced the appellant to death by hanging after his conviction for blasphemy under Section 382 (b) of the Kano State Sharia Panel Code Law 2000.
The convict was dragged before the court by the police on a count charge of inciting religious creed contrary to Section 382 (6) of the Kano State Sharia Panel Code Law 2000.
October 26, 2020
Ayade to fix destroyed public assets with N5bn
Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River says the state will require N5 billion to repair the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC) vandalised by hoodlums. Ayade made this known on Monday, while reaffirming the curfew imposed on Calabar and its environs.
The hoodlums had on Friday and Saturday took advantage of the #ENDSARS protests and looted items in the centre after they vandalised it. READ ALSO: Enugu Govt approves further works on Int’l Conference Centre “It will take the state government N5 billion to bring back the Calabar International Conference Centre, the beauty of Cross River State. “This is not the Cross River that I was born into; it is unlike us,’’ the governor said. Ayade said that the action would have negative impact on the progress of the state’s industrialisation efforts aimed at jobs creation. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that police and other security agencies deployed to the town had started raiding the suspected criminal hideouts with a view to recover the looted items. (NAN)
October 26, 2020
SERAP reacts to NBC’s sanction on Channels TV, Arise, AIT
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has condemned the “unconstitutional and illegal” fines of N3 million each imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission on Channels Television, Arise Television, and Africa Independent Television over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.
The acting Director-General of NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, had announced at a press conference in Abuja on that the agency has fined Channels Television, Arise Television, and Africa Independent Television for what it termed “unprofessional coverage” of the #EndSARS protests.
SERAP made its reaction known in a statement by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, titled ‘SERAP asks NBC to withdraw ‘illegal fines on Channels TV, AIT, Arise TV or face legal action’.
The statement read, “This action by NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices. NBC should drop the fines and uphold Nigerian constitution and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom. We will sue NBC if the unconstitutional fines are not rescinded within 48 hours.
“This is a new low in Nigeria’s protection of freedom of expression, and the ability of independent media to function in the country. The fines are detrimental to media freedom, and access to information, and the NBC must immediately withdraw the decision.”
The statement, read in part: “Media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information.
The ability to practice journalism free from undue interference, to cover peaceful protests, and critical views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.”
October 26, 2020
NAFDAC blacklists Indian drug manufacturer, Mars Remedies over falsification
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) weekend banned all products manufactured by Mars Remedies PVT Limited, India over falsification of Ciprofloxacin Tablets BP 500mg with NAFDAC registration number NO C4-0498 for Pinnacle Health Pharmaceutical Ltd.
In a press statement signed by the Director-General, Prof Moji Christianah Adeyeye, the agency insisted that in view of the unprofessional practice all products manufactured by the Mars Remedies PVT LTD, 635, GIDC Estate Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, will no longer be allowed into Nigeria with immediate effect.
In a letter dated October 9, 2020, addressed to the Managing Director of Mars Remedies PVT Limited, and titled; “Notice of blacklisting as a manufacturer of substandard and falsified medicines”, Adeyeye, said the agency has zero-tolerance for substandard and falsified medicines preponderance in Nigeria.
“In violation of NAFDAC extant laws and regulations, the company illegally manufactured different formulations of Ciprofloxacin tablets instead of the approved formulation for export to Nigeria.”
According to Adeyeye, the variation in the formulation of the Ciprofloxacin 500mg tablets, which may impact on the product quality and shelf –life, was not approved by the Agency before the changes were made.
This constitutes a violation of the NAFDAC Act, noting with dismay that the company has displayed a flagrant disregard for compliance with global standards necessary to assure the production of quality assured products.
Therefore the company has been blacklisted accordingly. She warned all manufacturers and importers of medicines to adhere strictly to the conditions for which their products were registered by NAFDAC or face similar sanctions.
October 26, 2020
2 die in stampede over COVID-19 palliatives in Abuja
Two women died on Monday in a vicious struggle for COVID-19 palliatives looted by hoodlums in a warehouse on the Secretariat road in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.
Day Break gathered that many people were stabbed, some fainted in the commotion, while several others were injured during the struggle.
The palliatives were said to have included rice, salt, noodles, spaghetti and sugar, as well as other condiments.
Sources said that attempts were made to revive those who fainted while the corpses of the deceased women were taken away by some residents.
A mob had besieged the warehouse around 8:00am to ‘collect’ their own share of the food items neither maintaining any queues nor having security personnel around.
An eyewitness, simply identified as Uhiene, said the process was smooth until around midday when it was disrupted by some impatient persons.
“Right now, they (thugs) are pushing people inside, some persons are fainting, some are dying inside,” she added.
Another eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, said: “Getting into the warehouse was very tough and hard. I suffered some bruises, but glory be to God, I made it; because, it was not an easy feat.
“Some are dying in there (the warehouse), others are suffocating, sweating…. There was a woman of 21-years-old that died inside.
Another woman also died. “I saw them myself. They were stepped upon when they fell down (in the stampede).
The women couldn’t stand up. They were were trampled upon and killed.”
Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Musa Bello, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of the people who broke the warehouse where CACOVID palliatives were being stored in Gwagwalada.
As at the time of filing this report, military personnel have moved in to restore calm in the area while the FCT State Police Command has yet to speak of the attack on the warehouse.
October 26, 2020
IPOB plans public disgrace for Nigerian politicians traveling abroad
Leader of the Indegineous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has warned corrupt Nigerian politicians against traveling outside the country.
Kanu who stated this in a live broadcast said his group would publicly disgrace and humiliate corrupt Nigerian political office holder sighted in any foreign country.
He said, “Any day any corrupt Nigerian political office holder was sighted in any foreign country, such a person would be publicly disgraced and humiliated.”
The IPOB leader, who was highly aggrieved over the massacre of Nigerian youths protesting against police brutality and bad governance at Lekki Toll Gate, said the ban was with immediate effect.
“From today, October 25, 2020, if we get you abroad, we will disgrace you. Stay at home until you meet the 23 demands of the youths,” he said.
While blaming the infrastructural decay and endemic corruption in Nigeria on the avarice of the politicians, the IPOB leader regretted that Nigerian politicians allowed public infrastructure particularly schools to collapse while funding their children’s education abroad with stolen public funds.
“The children of such politicians schooling abroad will be chased back home by the diasporan Nigerians to enroll in schools which their parents failed to renovate and fund at home,” he added.
October 26, 2020