Headlines
Wike: The Super/Spiderman of Our Time
- /home/rhoncare/pointblank.ng/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://pointblank.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Wike-1000x534.jpg&description=Wike: The Super/Spiderman of Our Time', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/rhoncare/pointblank.ng/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 69
https://pointblank.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Wike-1000x534.jpg&description=Wike: The Super/Spiderman of Our Time', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
By Eric Elezuo
The legend of super hero comics remains the major toast among children and the very young at heart. Among such super heroes are Superman, Spiderman, Flash, Ironman and many others. These super heroes have a tendency of appearing unannounced to save the day whenever there is an emergency, and in all the movies they have featured, they are always right on time.
However, right out of the comic books came another super hero, who appeared as a saving grace and averted an uncanny situation. He is the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
Very early on Thursday, July 16, as a fall out of the war of words between a former acting managing director of the Niger delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs Joy Nunieh, and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, policemen in their numbers besieged the residence of the former in apparent readiness to ‘arrest’ her.
The news of the siege got out so fast that the newest super hero in town flew in, in quick strides to the venue, matched the policemen out, and took the lady with him to government.
Wike has been known to react the way that suits him each time he feels there is a form of oppression lurking by the corner, and so his response to the calls for a super hero in the affairs of Nunieh was timely because not until 24 hours later, no one knows the reason the policemen came neither were they able to produce their search warrant or warrant of arrest.
Within the brief period the incident happened, one would have expected a call to be put across to the Commissioner of Police in the state, to confirm the reason for the presence of his men at the private residence of Nunieh. It did not happen neither did the officers who were matched bothered to inform their boss of the unfolding events. This lends credence to the fact that he presence of the officers were not logged. Obviously, no one would have been able to account for the woman if she had the house with the officers.
That the commissioner of police in Rivers State and the Inspector General of Police came out later to claim that they were aware of the invasion is not enough. If they were, why was it difficult for the officers to produce any sort of warrant. In the absence of that, they could very well be dismissed as invaders, and prosecuted.
Wike’s tactics may not be the most modern, but somehow, it came in handy to save the day. No one knows how the story would have been told today if he had not shown up.
Joy Nunieh has accused Akpabio of massive misrepresentation in the NDDC, bordering on fraud, intimidation, stealing of public and above all sexual harassment.
Wike’s action is a wakeup call for governors to stay alert and protect their citizens if for any reason they suspect official intimidation and victimisation. It must recalled in that sometime, not long ago, security agencies invaded homes of judges in the dark, and effected unlawful arrests.
The Senate has passed a bill to establish State Police in Nigeria.
The Senate plenary was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate adopted manual voting for the consideration of the State Police Bill after the electronic voting device developed technical issues during plenary on Wednesday.
Under the manual voting arrangement, each senator had to stand up, announce his or her name, and openly state his or her position on the proposed bill for establishing State Police.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier transmitted a Constitution Amendment Bill seeking the establishment of State Police to the Senate as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The legislation seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for the establishment of state police across the federation.
The move follows repeated calls by the President for constitutional reforms that would enable states to play a more active role in securing their territories.
A fresh spotlight was cast on terrorism financing and security threats on Tuesday as the United States sanctioned a Lagos-based alleged ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) financier.
This came as troops neutralised suspected ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) operatives and the Federal Government deepened counterterrorism cooperation with international partners.
The United States imposed sanctions on Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad and three bureaux de change linked to him over accusations of facilitating funds for the terrorist group.
Muhammad, 35, also known as Adamu Mukhtar and Muhammad Mukhtar, was identified as a key facilitator for ISIS-West Africa. He was listed with an address in Agege, Lagos State.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Muhammad allegedly served as a conduit for ISIS financing through bureaux de change operating in Lagos and Kano states.
The three businesses sanctioned alongside him are Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited, both based in Lagos State, as well as Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited in Kano State.
According to OFAC, the network includes a France-based facilitator accused of providing information on explosives to ISIS supporters and a Syria-based operator who allegedly used cryptocurrency to transfer funds to ISIS associates in several countries, including the United States.
Announcing the sanctions, U.S. State Department spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said the measures were aimed at disrupting the terrorist group’s financial operations worldwide.
“Under the leadership of President Trump, the United States is dismantling ISIS’s ability to finance terrorism around the world.
“We are cutting off the financial lifelines that enable ISIS to fund attacks, support its regional affiliates, and threaten civilians, including religious minorities,” Pigott said.
He added that the actions reflected sustained U.S. efforts to weaken ISIS, which he said had increasingly decentralised its operations and relied on financial intermediaries to sustain its global network.
The U.S. government also reaffirmed its security partnership with Nigeria, citing Abuja’s role in the May 16, 2026, operation that resulted in the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-highest-ranking ISIS official.
Washington pledged to continue deploying diplomatic and legal measures against ISIS and its supporters.
Headlines
Phone Hacking Charge: El-Rufai to Remain in Custody as Court Turns Down Bail Variation Request
The embattled former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has lost his battle to get the bail conditions imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Abuja varied.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Tuesday, refused to relax the bail conditions for the former governor while delivering a ruling in an application by El-Rufai.
El-Rufai, through his lawyer Paul Erokoro (SAN), had applied for a variation of some of the bail conditions earlier granted him, describing them as harsh, stringent, outlandish and difficult to meet.
The senior lawyer argued that the bail terms are too stringent, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.
However, the prosecution, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist, urging the court to refuse the application.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the request to vary the bail conditions, holding that there are civil servants who own properties at the said location.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the Department of State Services (DSS) closed its case against the former governor in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, prompting the formal closure of the DSS case.
Following the development, defence counsel, Paul Erokoro told the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.
The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond and do the necessary filing.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik then fixed September 22 for hearing of the no case submission and the continuation of proceedings.
