News
Court Slams ₦100 Million On IGP, NPF, And PSC
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have been ordered to pay ₦ 100,000 million in damages by a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.
Naija News reports that the court on Monday imposed ₦100,000 million damages on Egbetokun, the NPF, and the PSC for breaching the law in their attempt to stop the February 22, 2025, local government election in Osun State.
Honourable Justice A. A Demi-Ajayi, while delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/OS/CS/41/2025, held that the sealing of the offices of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and arrest of staff of the commission in the build-up to the election was unlawful as the Police authority failed to provide any law that was broken to warrant its action.
The judge noted that the evidence presented before the court showed that the election was held in compliance with the relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022, and other enabling laws, leaving the Police with no legal justification to interfere with the process.
The suit, which has the OSSIEC and its Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye as claimants, had prayed the court to hold that the action of the Inspector-General of Police and officers of the Nigerian Police in sealing Commission’sission’s Head office and offices across the state a few hours to the local governments election in the state, the threat to arrest OSSIEC Chairman, and eventually arrests of ad-hoc officers engaged by it, was unlawful.
In suit, the claimants asked the court to determine “whether the plaintiffs, generally, severally and variously, are not entitled to enjoy their fundamental rights to liberty, right to private life, right to dignity of human person and right to own movable and immovable property as enshrined under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”
They also contended that the action of the Police reflected partisanship and urged the court to declare the arrest and detention of staff Commission in the build-up to the February 22, 2025, local government election as illegal and unlawful, “while the threat of further arrest and/or continuing detention of the plaintiffs’ staff by the defendants is illegal, unlawful.”
Besides, the claimants argued that the local government’s election was ordered by the court and described the conduct of the Police as an affront to the judiciary, which they prayed the court to hold against the IGP and the Police authority by awarding an aggravated damage of N2 billion against them.
The claimants request that the court restrain the IGP or any of its agents from continuing to overreach their power by interfering with the Commission’s lawful duties, and plead with the court to grant their request in the interest of justice.
However, the defendant acknowledged the sealing off of the offices of OSSIEC and the arrest of its staff, stating that the step was a preemptive measure to prevent the commission of a crime.
In an affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ogunmokun Abiodun, the Police noted that its action was not carried out arbitrarily but “was founded on the credible suspicion their engagement in actions deemed to have violated the Electoral laws and other applicable laws as opposed to the averment contained in paragraph 14 of the plaintiffs’ affidavit.”
He contended that the claimants had exaggerated the development, as the Police only performed their duty of ensuring peace and order, urging the court to dismiss the suit as frivolous.
He denied the allegation of partisanship raised against the IGP and the Police authority by the plaintiffs, noting that it was acting within the scope of its constitutional and statutory duties.
Reacting to the judgment, OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, extolled the judiciary, asserting that justice has been served. He also commended the legal team led by Maruf Adediran Esq., saying that history already has in its records the illegal action of the Police in interfering with grassroots democracy in Osun State, and that at every time, that book will speak to the generations to come.
The family of Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo has announced the passing of their matriarch and wife of the former governor, Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo.
She was aged 100.
In a brief statement released on Tuesday and forwarded to P.M.NEWS, the family announced “with deep regret but with gratitude to Almighty God, the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo (1925–2026), who was called to glory on Monday, 11 January.”
The family thanked God for the “fulfilled life and legacy of love, strength and faith she leaves behind,” and prayed for the repose of her soul.
The deceased was the wife of the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, the first civilian governor of Ogun State, who served during Nigeria’s Second Republic between October 1979 and December 1983.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
News
[JUST IN] Wike’s Assassination Plot: Police Take Action On Top Governor Fubara’s Ally; Nigerians React
The Nigeria Police Force, through the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has finally invited Tammy Wenike Danagogo, former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), over the allegation that he was speaking in a leaked telephone conversation, discussing how to assassinate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Danagogo is a top ally of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers. It was alleged that the governor’s ally was making the call with Tombari Joseph Gbeneol, a medical doctor and founder of Life Forte Chapel Church in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
In the leaked conversation, Danagogo and Gbeneol were said to have discussed how they could bring in an Israeli national to assassinate the minister of the FCT, and it ended with an alleged plan to urge Governor Fubara to fund the execution.
Last week, Benjamin Hundeyin, the public relations officer of the police, reportedly revealed the arrest of Gbeneol in a statement on Tuesday, January 6, where he disclosed that further information on the issue would be made available after the interrogation had been completed.
This is coming amid the heated political tension between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Since the Christmas holiday, the two political leaders have been throwing banters at each other. The governor has been accused of ignoring the peace agreement he signed with President Bola Tinubu in 2025.
The news of the police invitation to Danagogo was shared by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to Wike. The development has started generating reactions from some Nigerians. Below are some of their reactions:
Olufemi Aluko described it as a joke:
“Once I saw Israel, I just started laughing. We’re not serious in this country. I just knew it had to be a joke.”
Seyi questioned: “Leaked conversation. Yeah. How many phone taps do the DSS actually have running?”
Dare called for a deeper investigation: “Has it got to this? This is barbaric. If found culpable, he should be made to face the law.”
Meenah condemned the development:
“Another shocking development. When close allies of a governor are linked to alleged assassination plots, it raises serious questions about leadership and accountability. Rivers State deserves leaders who unify, not ones whose associates spark fear and chaos.”
Read more reactions to the news from X here: /
Police Invite Fubara's Ex-SSG Tammy Danagogo Over Leaked Phone Conversation Plotting Wike’s Assassination
The Nigeria Police Force, through its Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has invited a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Tammy Wenike Danagogo, for…
— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) January 12, 2026
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has lost three of its chieftains in Kogi to the cold hand of death. The APC chieftains are Alih Atabo, Onojah James Ignatius, and Jatto Onimisi Suleiman.
Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s commissioner for information and communication, announced their deaths in a statement in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, January 12.
According to Fanwo, the government and people of Kogi received the death of the APC chieftains with profound sorrow, describing them as distinguished sons of the state.
The statement reads in part: From breaking news to viral moments. “Hon. Onojah James Ignatius, Special Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State and former Chairman of Igalamela Local Government Area; Hon. Jatto Onimisi Suleiman, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor; and Alhaji Alih Atabo, APC Chairman of Anyigba Ward in Dekina Local Government Area.”
The Punch reported that Fanwo maintained that the deceased served the state and the APC with uncommon loyalty, dedication and commitment.
However, the state government did not disclose the causes of their deaths but conveyed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s condolences to the family, friends, associates and the APC family in the state.
Nigerians have therefore reacted to the news of their deaths differently:
Adeyemi condemned Nigerians mocking the dead: “It is truly heartbreaking how many Nigerians have lost their humanity. When a fellow human being passes away, the only thing some people can do is mock them over petty political differences. It’s a disgrace. Death is inevitable for us all; those who are mocking the dead today should remember that they could be the victims tomorrow.”
Chiedozie Onyeke prayed for them: “God should have allowed them to enjoy Tinubu’s reforms small. May their souls rest in peace.”
Uzochukwu Agu O.G. made an unverified claim: “They were clogs in the wheel of Yahaya Bello’s Ambition. It is what it is. The next set of chieftains to replace them will unilaterally call for Yahaya Bello to run for Senate.”
Adams Azeez prayed for the deceased: “Whatever your politics, death is a reminder that power is temporary. May their souls rest in peace, and may their families find strength.”
Ajayi Ogidiolu demanded more clarity about their death: “When did they die? Died or killed? The information is not really clear.”
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