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For Your Safety, This is How to Behave at Police Check Points

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The Nigerian Police have issued tips to Nigerians on how to avoid clashes with officers at a police checkpoint.

The police gave the tips via their verified Twitter handle, @PoliceNG, on Monday.

The tips urged Nigerians to avoid an unnecessary argument or challenging armed personnel on duty.

They also advised Nigerians to avoid giving an unhappy impression when encountering an officer on their beat.

The tips came against the backdrop of recent killings and brutality of citizens by police officers.

The killings have of late drawn widespread condemnation from advocacy groups some of which held public protests in parts of the country.

Also, many Nigerians have taken to their social media accounts to narrate their experiences with the police and to call for the scrapping of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

Earlier on April 17, a former head of the Police Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit, Yomi Shogunle, had advised Nigerians on how to have a better communication relationship with an average police officer at the checkpoints.

Mr Shogunle on his twitter handle @YemiShogunle said: ”For now, don’t go and be speaking Queen’s English with them on the road.

“For proper understanding, talk to them in Pidgin, another way to avoid kasala.”

According to him, this would aid communication and proper understanding between personnel of the NPF and Nigerians.

Here are the tips listed by the Police
  1. Endeavour to slow down your vehicle. It shows that you are not reckless. It also douses suspicion that you are a criminal and may want to speed off.
  2. Turn down the volume of your car stereo. Courtesy demands this. Besides, you are able to hear each other better. This simple act will also help you to win the confidence of the security operative.
  3. Keep your hands visible to avoid unnecessary suspicion or fear by the officers that you are attempting to bring out a gun or other harmful objects to attack them.
  4. Turn on the inner light of your vehicle while approaching the cops (if at night). It readily sends an unspoken message that you have nothing to hide.
  5. Be friendly and cheerful. Commend the officers especially when you see them working under very unfriendly weather conditions such as the rains, the harsh harmattan conditions, excessive heat, cold or sunshine. We know it’s their job, but a little kind word from you will do a lot of good. Remember when you smile at the mirror, the mirror smiles back at you.
  6. Endeavour to be polite even when answering questions put to you by the officers.
  7. Don’t dare or challenge an armed security man to a duel. Oftentimes, you hear people say things like ‘shoot me if you can!” Note that this is a recipe for disaster! It is very provocative and an unnecessary call for war. So, please play safe, more so, as you do not know the state of mind of the officer concerned.
  8. Also, don’t go into a physical fight with an armed security officer. He may resort to the use of his weapon (rightly or wrongly) to defend himself.
  9. Avoid unnecessary argument with armed security personnel. There are a thousand and one ways to seek redress where you feel your rights have been infringed upon.
  10. Never try to touch an officer in an unfriendly manner. He may suspect you of trying to disarm him.
  11. If you are a regular traveler or road user, make sure you have the police emergency phone numbers of the route you operate. You never can tell when an emergency situation could arise and you need the Police to come to your aid.
  12. Make sure you have all your relevant car papers and desist from actions or inactions that constitute either a criminal or traffic offence. Such infractions of the law provide veritable grounds for possible charges and other forms of adversarial contact with the Police or other law enforcement agencies, including unnecessary arguments.
  13. Don’t give the impression that you are unhappy to see an officer on his beat or that he is wasting your time. But if you do have an emergency, politely inform the officer. Don’t speed off while still being checked.
  14. Take note of the name tags, Force or Service numbers, personal description, description of weapons or patrol vehicle of the security officer especially where the officers begin to conduct themselves in an unprofessional manner.
  15. Seek an audience with the most senior police officer at the checkpoint if things are not working out smoothly.
  16. Politely insist to be taken to the police station if your complaint is not properly addressed.

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Court Orders INEC to Publish Adebutu’s Name as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of Ladi Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election within 24 hours.Judge Peter Lifu gave the order on Friday in a judgement following a suit filed by Mr Adebutu and the PDP to challenge INEC’s exclusion of his name from the final list of candidates for the upcoming 6 February 2027 governorship election.

The judge held that INEC “acted beyond its statutory powers” by removing Mr Adebutu’s name from the list, adding that “the commission had no authority to disqualify a candidate duly nominated by a political party.”

He consequently declared the exclusion “unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.”

The judge also declared that even if the party had violated the Electoral Act, INEC could not “unilaterally remove the name of a duly nominated candidate without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.”

In resolving the issues raised by parties, Mr Lifu held that the power to nominate candidates for “elections rested solely with political parties.” He ruled that “Neither INEC nor any other authority could take over that responsibility.”

He explained that while INEC had the responsibility to publish candidates’ names, the publication was an administrative duty. He said it did not confer on the commission the power to nominate or disqualify candidates.
He noted that the PDP conducted its governorship primary on 24 May and that INEC, which monitored the exercise, did not raise any objection to the process at the time.

The judge faulted the commission for waiting more than four months before “belatedly publishing the final list on 10 October” without informing the plaintiffs of any intention to exclude their candidate.

He questioned INEC’s decision to raise the issue after the primary had been conducted and monitored, when it could have raised any concerns in its monitoring report.

Mr Lifu warned that allowing INEC to exercise such powers would amount to a “dangerous show of power”.

He said such authority could allow the commission to disqualify candidates only days before an election, adding that INEC did not possess absolute powers.

The judge also held that the membership register tendered before the court contained Mr Adebutu’s name against serial number 1536.

He said the evidence established that Mr Adebutu was a member of the PDP and that it was the political party, not INEC, that had the authority to determine its membership.

The judge questioned why INEC considered it its responsibility to determine who belonged to a political party, holding that the commission exceeded its powers by omitting Mr Adebutu’s name.

The dispute

The dispute followed the exclusion of Mr Adebutu and his running mate from the final list of candidates published by INEC for the 6 February 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

INEC published the final list on 10 October, featuring 13 governorship candidates but excluding the PDP from the race.

INEC said its decision followed the PDP’s alleged failure to comply with the membership register requirements under the Electoral Act 2026.

Section 77(5)–(7) of the Act requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within the stipulated period. The provisions also empower the commission to scrutinise the registers.

In September, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the provisions in a case involving the Zenith Labour Party and INEC. The ruling affirmed the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primaries.

Following the exclusion, the PDP and Mr Adebutu approached the Federal High Court in Abuja in October, asking it to compel INEC to recognise him as the party’s governorship candidate.

The plaintiffs challenged the commission’s decision, arguing that it violated their right to fair hearing and breached provisions of the Electoral Act. They asked the court to set aside the decision and direct INEC to publish Mr Adebutu’s name as the party’s governorship candidate within 24 hours of its order.

INEC opposed the suit, maintaining that Mr Adebutu’s name was missing from the PDP membership register submitted to the commission. It therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit for being incompetent.

Source: Premium Times

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Michael Carrick Sacked As Manchester United Manager, Pichettino Tipped As Replacement

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Former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino would have an enormous task on his hands to revive a club that has never recovered from the departure of Alex Ferguson 13 years ago.

The Red Devils, once the dominant force in English football, have been overtaken by Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

United’s next game is against fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.

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Tinubu Rains N100m Each on World Cup Winning Flamingos

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President Bola Tinubu has rewarded each player of the Flamingos with a savings certificate worth N100 million, after the team became the first African nation to win the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, announced the awards at a reception at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja, where she represented the President.

The head coach is to receive N100 million in cash, while each member of the technical crew gets N50 million.

She praised the team for winning six consecutive matches, and for the humility, discipline and respect they showed after the final.

Senator Tinubu said the victory would inspire young girls and show that their ambitions can be realised on the world stage.

She also commended the coaches, technical and medical staff, administrators, parents and fans for their contributions.

The U-17 team won their first FIFA World Cup title after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final on November 7, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku securing the historic victory.

The Flamingos lost their opener 2-1 to Poland, but dominated in the remaining matches, defeating defending champions North Korea, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Their first-ever appearance in the final was sealed with a 3-1 victory over Brazil, before taking home the trophy after beating Japan.

The players have received commendations from government officials and football fans around the world.

President Tinubu congratulated the Flamingos for becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said he received the news upon his return from campaign engagements in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.

He also described Nigeria’s maiden triumph as a proud moment for the country and a landmark achievement for African women’s football.

The Senate also pledged a N100 million reward for the Flamingos.

The pledge followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi, who congratulated the players on their outstanding performance and commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for its role in the team’s achievement.

The latest feat by a Nigerian sports team came less than two years after the senior women’s football team, Super Falcons, won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.

In 2025, the D’Tigress won a historic 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title.

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