The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a six-count charge against Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume for allegedly advocating for a military coup in the country.

Naija News reports that the DSS, in the charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abujja, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/610/2025, said Onukwume, of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, allegedly committed the offence in October 2025.

In the charge filed on Tuesday, the DSS stated that by his conduct, Onukwume committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 46 A (1) and 59 (1) of the Criminal Code Act.

According to Zagazola Makama, Onukwume would be arraigned before the end of the week.

Some counts in the charge read:

“That you, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, male, 27 years old of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, sometimes in October, 2025 having the intent to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturbing the public peace, posted a message calling for a coup in Nigeria on your social media account to wit: your verified X account (@theagroman), by which you published the following words: “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigeria government and join the AES. That is all we need now.’ You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 59 (1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

That you, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, male, 27 years old of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, on or about 15th day of October, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, enmity, criminal intimidation, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety, against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly and intentionally posted a message on the social media via your verified account, to wit: your verified X account (@theagroman), by which you published the following words: ‘It will happen eventually, Nigerian. The military needs your support now! Only them can save this country. The bastard in Aso Rock has basically sold this country to the West and they run our intelligence apparatus only the military can reset this country.’ You thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (As Amended).

That you, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, male, 27 years old of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, on or about 15th day of October, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, enmity, criminal intimidation, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety, against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly and intentionally posted a message on the social media via your verified account, to wit: your verified X account| (@theagroman), by which you published the following words: “Tinubu has to go and APC has to die for Nigeria to have any semblance of normal life. And if you think your stupid, votes can remove Tinubu. I’m here to tell you that you’re a fool.’ You thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (As Amended).

That you, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, male, 27years old of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, on or about 15th day of October, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, enmity, criminal intimidation, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety, against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly and intentionally posted a message on the social media via your. verified account, to wit: your verified X account (@theagroman), by which you published the following words: “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigeria Government and join the AES. That is all we need now.’ You thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (As Amended).”

The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has threatened to hold a nationwide protest on November 24 if the Federal Government fails to pay the outstanding pension increment arrears and palliative allowances owed to pensioners.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, November 11, in Lagos, the Coalition’s National Chairman, Mukaila Ogunbote, revealed that the Federal Government had failed to fulfil its promise of paying the ₦32,000 pension increment arrears and the ₦25,000 palliative allowance, which had been approved since 2023.

Ogunbote, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NIPOST Chapter, said the protest would take place unless the payments were made by November 23.

We were told that our arrears would be paid within two weeks of the approval, yet nothing has been done,” Ogunbote stated.

“If by November 23, we do not receive payment, all pensioners nationwide will embark on a naked protest on November 24,” he warned.

Ogunbote also disclosed that pensioners in the diaspora had expressed their support and would join the protest from their respective countries, making the protest not just a nationwide event, but a global one.

He appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and direct the Minister of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation to release the funds.

“Many pensioners have died and many more are dying due to hardship, as they are unable to feed well or access proper medical treatment when ill,” Ogunbote lamented.

The coalition’s chairman further criticized the government for paying workers their ₦35,000 palliative allowance, while pensioners, who he argued are more vulnerable, have been left out.

Workers received the ₦35,000 palliative in a month, but up till now, pensioners have not been paid the ₦25,000 approved for us. We are more vulnerable than anyone else,” he said.

Ogunbote also expressed disappointment at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for not supporting the pensioners’ demand more actively. He called for unity among workers to address the perceived injustices perpetrated by the government, which he accused of prioritizing other expenditures while neglecting pensioners.

The pensioners’ representatives, including Ogunbote, also appealed to the government to release the owed funds before December to allow pensioners to prepare for the upcoming Christmas celebrations with dignity.

The President of the Civil Service Pensioners, Francis Oluwo, lamented that the individuals surrounding President Tinubu were not following through on the instructions issued to them.

Oluwo also called on the Federal Government to act swiftly, noting that many retirees are living in poor health conditions and struggling to afford basic needs like food and medication.

Bridget Obieto, the Assistant Secretary of the Voice of Nigeria Pensioners Association, echoed these sentiments and urged the NLC to use its influence to help address the pensioners’ demands.

We have served this country faithfully for over 35 years. Now that we are old, the government must not abandon us,” she said.

Obieto appealed to President Bola Tinubu and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to ensure the prompt payment of arrears before December to enable pensioners to celebrate the festive season with dignity.

The Chairman Emeritus of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NIPOST Chapter, Elijah Akindutire, also called for the payment of the arrears.

Akindutire urged pensioners to turn out in large numbers for the protest on November 24 to show the government their resolve.

“We are determined to make our voices heard,” Akindutire said.

The pensioners remain hopeful that the Federal Government will act before the deadline, but their resolve to protest has made their intentions clear.

Bernard Doro on Tuesday officially assumed duty as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu

Doro becomes the fourth person to head the ministry, taking over from Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who now serves as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

The new minister, accompanied by his wife, Dr Naomi Doro, and other well-wishers, was received by the Minister of State, Dr Yusuf Sununu; the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yakubu Kofarmata; and other senior officials of the ministry.

Speaking during his maiden address to ministry staff and heads of agencies, Doro outlined his vision and reaffirmed his commitment to President Tinubu’s poverty-reduction agenda.

He vowed to prioritize programmes aimed at lifting more than 60 per cent of Nigerians currently experiencing multidimensional poverty.

The minister stressed that collaboration and diligence within the ministry would be crucial to achieving the administration’s goal of “making hope a reality” for the poor.

Doro said, “I have lived in the UK for over two decades, so there will be a bit of adjustment to make, but I believe that by leveraging your experience, technical knowledge, and my willingness to learn, we can take this ministry to greater heights.

For some reason, there have been great expectations of me, I’m not sure why, but the bar has been set so high, and I need to work extra hard to make sure that I even get to half of the bar that has been set for me.

“I believe that we will work together to achieve even beyond that. So, my goal is simple. Mr President wants to renew the hope of Nigerians, and especially those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

“This country, by statistics, has over 60 per cent multi-dimensionally poor people. I’m sure we can do better with the resources that we have as a country. And it is our job, as the humanitarian affairs ministry and poverty reduction, to help those people move up from where they are.

“We can help them to make sure that we achieve social mobility. We can do this because of the experience that is in the house, and we will do this by working together and by collaborating. We will do this by ensuring that we are accountable to one another.

“The goal is to make sure that we make hope a reality for those demographics that we are serving, and we would be selfless in doing that.”

Doro also stated that trust is vital to achieving the ministry’s set objectives.

He said, “It feels at home, and I must say it feels like a family, and I want to believe that I can understand the culture here and be part of that culture. You can rest assured that the positive aspects of the culture here will be maintained. And where we need to rejig, we’ll need to challenge ourselves.

“I can see a team here, and a team is not just people who work together; it is people who actually trust one another. I believe that one element that is important for us is that we can trust one another as we work together, because that is how we can achieve the intended objective.

“I am taking over from someone who is a friend, who is a mentor. And it’s indeed a big shoe to fill, a big shoe to step into, but one thing that gives me courage is the fact that I have got experienced individuals here, and I know that you will support me to not only get into the shoe,but to walk in it comfortably.”