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Police Drag Federal Lawmaker To Court For Assaulting, Threatening Cab Driver’s Life

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The Police have arraigned a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, on Wednesday, before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting at Kuje for allegedly assaulting a bolt driver at his Abuja residence.

The lawmaker, who is representing Aba North and South federal constituency of Abia State, was also accused of abusing his office and threatening the e-hailing driver’s life.

The charge against the defendant bordered on abuse of office, assault, and threat to life.

After the charges were read to him by the court clerk, the defendant entered into a not-guilty plea.

Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Mr. A. Umar, applied for a date for full-blown hearing to commence in the matter.

The bolt driver was represented in court by a human rights activist, Mr. Deji Adeyanju.

However, counsel to the defendant made an oral application for the lawmaker’s release on bail, pending the determination of the case.

The defendant argued that the charge against him contained bailable offences, adding that his right to presumption of innocence was guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

In his ruling, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id acceded to the defendant’s application for bail and granted Ikwecheg bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the like sum.

The court stressed that the sureties must not only reside within its jurisdiction but also provide their utility bills as proof of residence.

It subsequently adjourned the matter till November 8 for trial.

Investors King had reported that the federal lawmaker had boasted that he could make the driver disappear without a trace and nothing would happen.

Ikwecheg was seen in a viral video expressing displeasure over what he described as the driver’s rude behaviour towards him when the driver asked him to come out of his residence and collect a delivery.

However, following a widespread condemnation that trailed his action and utterances, the lawmaker tendered a public apology for his conduct.

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Atiku, Sheu Sani, SERAP, Amnesty International, Others Kick As FG Arraigns Minors For Joining #EndBadGovernance Protests

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Condemnations have trailed the arraignment of some distressed minors alongside adults who protested against bad governance and hunger in Nigeria.

The Federal Government dragged the peaceful protesters of the nationwide #EndBadGovernance including 32 minors before an Abuja Federal High Court on Friday.

However, there was panic within the courtroom when some of the minors collapsed during the arraignment.

The minors were arraigned for alleged treason by participating in August’s 10 days nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance.

It was gathered that the minors, who have been held by the Nigeria Police Force since August, were deprived of adequate care while in detention.

The incident occurred as they were being transported from various police detention cells, including those from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

No sooner than they arrived court premises that couple of the young lads lost consciousness inside the courtroom.

Sources claimed that they fainted due to maltreatment and lack of sufficient food for the days they were detained. They further alleged that authorities are using hunger as a form of torture against the young protesters for merely exercising their constitutional rights.

Photos and videos from the courtroom depicted the distressing scene, showing some teenagers writhing on the floor while others attempted to assist them.

One lawyer was captured trying to resuscitate a protester who collapsed in the dock.

The detention of the minors and other protesters was mandated by Justice Emeka Nwite, who approved an ex-parte application from the police to keep the minors in custody for 60 days as part of their investigation into the protests, which were aimed at addressing worsening insecurity and hardship attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s policies.

Condemning their arraignment and treatment, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, lambasted the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government over the illegal detention of malnourished minors.

Reacting to videos of the collapsed minors, Atiku, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, said that Tinubu’s wickedness could not allow him to spare children who were protesting against his “harsh and draconian” policies in the country.

Atiku in a post on X said that the horrible scene of the collapsed malnourished minors in court is reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp, which is a reflection of the low premium Tinubu-led government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.

The former Vice President noted that it is reprehensible that President Tinubu who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh and draconian policies.

Similarly, Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker from Kaduna State, expressed deep concerns over the detention of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

Sani in a tweet on Friday questioned the justification behind their prolonged detention, saying there is no justification for the incarceration of the poor children.

He appealed to the Federal Government to set them free.

Also expressing outrage over the development, the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained #EndBadGovernance protesters in prison and dropping of charges against them.

In a post on X handle, SERAP demanded that President Tinubu’s administration must promptly investigate the apparent ill-treatment of #EndBadGovernance protesters in prison and prosecute those responsible.

In the same vein, Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, strongly condemned President Tinubu’s government for prosecuting minors who allegedly participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, criticized the government for its “shameless” treatment of these malnourished minors, who he believes deserve access to free education and healthcare, rather than being put on trial for treason.

Joining in the condemnation, Amnesty International wondered the rationale behind the prosecution of children who demanded good governance, calling for their immediate release.

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Lawyer Weeps As Minors Docked For Joining Hunger Protest Remanded In Prison After Failing To Meet Bail Conditions

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The lawyer to the underaged children the President Bola Tinubu-led administration arraigned in court for protesting against bad governance in Nigeria has recounted how he subbed profusely when the minors were remanded in prison.

They were taken to the Kuje Prison after failing to meet their bail conditions.

Investors King had reported that the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, granted bail to 76 protesters who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest held in August 2024.

While the court granted each of the defendants N10 million bail for the adult protesters, the court demanded the parents of the minors to take their children on bail.

However, the children could not perfect their bail conditions as their parents were not close at hand.

One of the Counsels to the protesters, Deji Adeyanju, said he wept when the children who had earlier collapsed in court were whisked to the Correctional facility.

He lamented that stringent bail conditions the court imposed on the protesters who have been in custody since August, have led to the taking them back to prison custody.

He wrote on his X handle, “All the children have been taken to Kuje Prison because it is difficult to meet their bail conditions. I didn’t know when I started crying in court today.”

Several groups including the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) had condemned the detention and reported maltreatment of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria.

The organisations had expressed deep concerns following alarming reports that several detained children, some under the age of 15, collapsed due to malnutrition inside the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Other prominent political figures in Nigeria have condemned the arraignment and incarceration of minors, calling on President Bola Tinubu to release them immediately.

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Nigeria Immigration Service Launches New Passport Renewal Mobile App, Issues Registration Guidelines

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Nigerian passport - Investorsking

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it has created a Mobile Application for individuals to renew their International Passports from the comfort of their homes without necessarily visiting its offices.

The agency, in a video information watched by Investors King, which it posted on its X handle on Thursday night, disclosed that those who applied for passport renewal online get them delivered to their homes and other addresses they have chosen.

The management of the agency stated that the digital innovation is part of its continued efforts to serve the Nigerian public more efficiently and create a functional system that meets global standards.

Tagged: “A New Contactless Passport Application and Issuance Process,” the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said as from November 1st, 2024, individuals who apply to renew their international passport will be able to use the mobile app and carryout the registration and application procedures from the comfort of their homes without having to visit any NIS office.

“Simply visit Google Play Store on your Android, App Store on IOS, and Window Devices and check for Nigeria Immigration Service Mobile App, click on it and download. You can also visit www.passport.immigration.gov.ng on your web browser.

“After downloading the Nigeria Immigration Mobile App on your mobile device, login on to www.passport.immigration.gov.ng, on your web browser; only use the following steps to get registered and apply to renew your passport:

“Step 1: Create a profile using a valid email.

Step 2: Complete eligibility test.

Step 3: Input your NIN and current passport number

Step 4: Fill out your bio data and upload relevant supporting documents such as NIN slip, certificate of local government of origin, birth certificate, among others.

Step 5: Proceed to take your biometric using your mobile phone fingerprint.

Step 6: Review all your information.

Step 7: Then, make payments.

Step 8: Finally submit your application.

“Now wait for your passport to be available and it will be delivered to your chosen address within the stipulated timeline,” the information revealed.

The NIS further explained how the procedures for renewal would be done in phases, stating: Phase 1: Canada – Nov. 1
Phase 2: UK, USA, Italy – Nov. 15
Phase 3: Nigeria & the rest of the world – Dec. 1.”

It added, “Thanks to the renewed hope agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu that cares for every Nigerian where they live, work and play.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) with the supervision of the Hon. Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the leadership of the Controller General, CGI Kemi Nanna Nandap, committed to improving passport application processes and making life easy for all Nigerians.

“Please note that this new application platform is for Passport Renewal Only.”

Meanwhile, individuals who reacted to the new development commended the NIS for coming up with the mobile app for international passport renewal, saying it would contribute in making the process seamless and easier.

They however suggested that the NIS management expunge upload of  supporting documents such as certificate of local government of origin and birth certificate since they have been included in the bio data earlier supplied during initial application for the passport.

One of those who commented simply identified self as @Justice_Israell, wrote: “Nigeria Immigration officers won’t like this because now they can no longer extort from citizen as every financial transaction is done online.

“I love this initiative. Nigeria immigration office is like a market place and this corruption is deeply rooted even to the officials at the top.”

“Why requesting for Birth and Local Government certificates for passport renewal? How did the person get his passport in the first place? Did they not use all these documents for first passport? This is not necessary, except you make it optional. Thank you,” another X user identified as @femoscorpion131 remarked.

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