Business
#EndSARS: Bola Tinubu reacts to allegation of sponsoring the protests
Bola Tinubu has reacted to media reports that he was among those sponsoring #EndSARS protests across the country.
The former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reacted to media reports that he was among those sponsoring #EndSARS protesters across the country.
While denying the allegation and exonerating himself, Tinubu advised Nigerians to jettison the news.
According to TheCable, this was disclosed in a statement by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, where he said he could not have been sponsoring a protest that is affecting the economy of Lagos State.
READ: The “EndSARS” protests and the problem of police reform in Nigeria
He said it is not possible for the APC Chieftain to be sponsoring the massive protest in all the states of the federation that it has occurred.
In the statement, he said, “There is a need to set the facts and record straight for fear that such a fake story may be taken on its face value by some unwary and gullible persons.
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“Asiwaju Tinubu could not have sponsored the #EndSARS protest that has blocked one of the main entries into and out of Lagos and one of the economic arteries of the Lagos State Government. He could also not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organizers.
“Secondly, Asiwaju Tinubu believes in the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression, assembly, and protest where and when necessary, he has always canvassed the need for people to explore peaceful channels to ventilate their views and demands. He believes the #EndSARS protesters have made their demands, which the Federal Government is studying.
READ: #EndSARS: State Governors to set up Judicial Panels of Inquiry – Osinbajo
“Like most Nigerians, Asiwaju believes that SARS’ brutality and untoward conduct against innocent youths and other Nigerians have gone on for too long and that the security outfit ought to be disbanded as demanded by the protesters.
“Asiwaju Tinubu believes it’s now time for our youths to wait, exercise restraint for dialogue and reform to commence. Therefore, it is the height of illogicality to ascribe the sponsorship of the protest to Asiwaju. The sponsors of this fake news forget that the protest is so widespread and cuts across the country.”
READ: #EndSARS: Popular hacking group, Anonymous allegedly hacks Nigerian Govt. websites
Backstory
It can be recalled that online media reports surfaced yesterday, where it was alleged that, Bola Tinubu was sponsoring the on-going #EndSARS protests in the South Western part of the country in order to cripple the country and disrepute the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on the global front.
Business
2021 Budget: Senate sets motion for budget defense, commences 2020 review
The National Assembly is set to commence a review of the 2020 budget implementation.
The two chambers of the National Assembly are set to postpone plenary to give room for its various committees to commence the review of the 2020 budget implementation.
As well as enable ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) defend their 2021 budget proposal. This is according to a disclosure by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
READ: President Buhari approves N37 billion for National Assembly renovation
The disclosure is the sequel to the passing of the 2021 Appropriation Bill for second reading last week. In addition, the National Assembly is expected to commence debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which was recently forwarded to the house by President Muhammadu Buhari.
READ: FG to inject over N198 billion on capital projects in power sector in 2021
What they are saying
Commenting on both bills, Mr. Lawan said: “On Tuesday, we will be taking the debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). This will be the last function that we would do in the plenary.”
He remarked further: “We will suspend plenary on Tuesday for the budget defense processes to start immediately”.
On an optimistic note, Mr. Lawan stated that the PIB which had scaled the first reading last week will also be passed for second reading today after the debate.
(READ MORE:U.S. budget suffers a deficit of $3.1 trillion in 2020, as pandemic slams the economy)
What you should know
The National Assembly has fixed the deadline for the 2021 budget defense in the red chamber by MDAs to be the first week of November 2020.
In lieu of this fact, Mr. Lawan urged all ministers and heads of government agencies to ensure they comply with the directives within the stipulated timeframe.
READ: FG gives reasons marketers are not allowed to determine petrol price
Why this matters
The recent development is a big boost in returning the country’s budget cycle back to the January-December timeframe which will expedite effective implementation of the budget provisions as funds will be released on time to concerned ministries, enabling them to execute capital projects and meet their recurrent needs.
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Business
#EndSARS: Human Rights Commission seeks prosecution of 35 indicted police officers
The National Human Rights Commission has demanded the prosecution of 35 indicted police officers.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) announced that it has submitted a report to the Presidential Investigation Panel on human rights abuse against the now-scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
As it seeks the prosecution of 35 indicted police personnel by the Attorney-General of the Federation. This was disclosed in a statement by the NHRC on Tuesday morning. The Commission said the report was submitted on Monday. The report contains names of all 35 indicted Policemen that served under the disbanded SARS and expects the AGF to consider their prosecution in accordance with the law.
READ: N1.5trillion accumulated losses of NNPC, a serious going-concern risk – PWC, SIAO Partners
NHRC SEEKS PROSECUTION OF 35 INDICTED POLICE PERSONNEL BY THE AGF pic.twitter.com/UdnQYGaFvp
— NHRC Nigeria tweets (@NhrcNigeria) October 20, 2020
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Backstory
Recall Nairametrics also reported that the NHRC also constituted members of an independent investigation panel into the activities of the dissolved SARS, as the Federal Government finds a way to end the nationwide protests.
The AGF told the NHRC that the report will be implemented by the Federal Government and justice would be served to all parties involved. The NHRC said the report was conducted by listening to complaints of police brutality in the six geopolitical zones and “there were discoveries and all were encapsulated in the report.
“We have a mandate to establish a constitutional order,” the AGF said.
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He added that the Police Act 2020 has provided solutions to some questions asked about the Police Force, including their operations and welfare captured in the Police Trust Fund.
Why it matters
The criminal prosecution of SARS personnel who have been involved in one form of abuse or the other has been a key demand of the #EndSARS protesters who have taken to the streets in the last two weeks to demonstrate against police brutality. They have declared that it is only in the transparent prosecution of these officers, amongst other demands that they will eventually call off their protests and vacate the streets.
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Business
Lagos state imposes 24-hour curfew, as hoodlums hijack #EndSARS protest
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Lagos State.
The Lagos State Government has announced the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in all parts of the state, with effect from 4 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
This is due to the raging #ENDSARS protests and demonstrations in the state which has been hijacked by criminals and hoodlums with attacks on innocent citizens and destruction of properties.
READ: #EndSARS: Hacker group, Anonymous hacks National Broadcasting Commission’s Twitter account
The announcement was made by the State Governor via a tweet thread on his official Twitter handle today.
Sanwo-Olu, in his statement, said, ‘’I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state.”
“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the #EndSars movement, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our state.
READ: #EndSARS: National Human Rights Commission sets up independent investigative panel
“I, therefore, declare a 24-hour curfew in the state starting from 4 pm today, nobody except emergency responders and essential service providers should be found on the streets.’’
The governor said nobody, except essential service providers and first responders, must be found on the streets.
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Dear Lagosians,
I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella
…— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 20, 2020
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Jimoh Mumin Esq
October 19, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Bola Tinubu can never sponsor the on going EndSARS prostest.
dammm deloilah
October 20, 2020 at 7:44 am
I like this niarametrics.com