Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

LAGOS — Prominent human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of 10 soldiers accused of killing three police officers in Taraba State, as well as 400 alleged terrorism financiers whose cases were reportedly abandoned under the previous administration.

In his petition, Falana accused former AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, of deliberately shielding the suspects from justice despite “overwhelming evidence.” Copies of the petition were also sent to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“The withdrawal of terrorism charges against these soldiers and the failure to prosecute hundreds of terror financiers amount to a grave abuse of prosecutorial powers and a betrayal of public trust,” Falana said.

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Falana recalled that in August 2019, 10 soldiers led by an Army Captain ambushed and killed three police officers in Jalingo, Taraba State, after they had arrested notorious kidnapper Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume. Although the soldiers were initially charged with terrorism offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the case was abruptly terminated after Malami entered a nolle prosequi, which Falana described as unconstitutional.

He noted that while the United Arab Emirates convicted six Nigerians for financing Boko Haram—two sentenced to life imprisonment and four jailed for 10 years—Nigerian authorities failed to bring a single financier to justice.

Falana accused Malami of failing to prosecute the 400 suspected terrorism financiers arrested after investigations by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Department of State Services (DSS), despite assurances that trials would commence after a judicial workers’ strike.

“The case files of these suspected financiers are reportedly still in the Office of the Attorney-General, while many of the suspects have regained their freedom. Nigeria cannot win the war against terrorism while protecting those who finance and execute it. The era of impunity must end,” Falana added.

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Nigerians may experience power shortages this Yuletide as gas-to-power debt issues disrupt electricity generation across the country.

Gas companies have begun cutting supplies to thermal power plants over unpaid debts, forcing electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to reduce daily power supply.

On Tuesday, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) informed customers across the South-East that low system frequency, caused by gas supply constraints, had necessitated load shedding by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). EEDC subsidiaries affected include MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra, and EastLand.

Similarly, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company confirmed that poor generation and allocation from generation companies (GenCos) were causing load shedding in its franchise areas.

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The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) confirmed that gas producers had started cutting supply due to outstanding debts owed by the government, despite a recent approval of N185 billion by the Federal Government for payment of arrears to gas suppliers, announced on December 4, 2025, by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) further disclosed that gas pipeline vandalism in the upstream network has worsened the situation, causing reduced output from gas-fired power plants and a decline in national grid generation capacity. Emergency measures, including increased hydroelectric dispatch and voltage control interventions, have been activated to maintain system stability.

With over 80 per cent of grid-connected power plants relying on natural gas, the sector remains highly vulnerable to gas supply disruptions, raising fears of sustained power outages during the festive season unless liquidity issues and infrastructure vulnerabilities are urgently addressed.

The current development signals a critical need for government intervention, stakeholder coordination, and investment in gas infrastructure to prevent widespread electricity shortages across Nigeria.

Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats

ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in a bid to persuade organised labour to shelve planned nationwide protests over the worsening security situation in Nigeria.

The meeting, held behind closed doors, involved the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other unions, amid heightened public attention on potential strike actions. NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero told journalists after the engagement that the discussion was a consultation rather than a final negotiation, noting that labour’s leadership would first brief its internal organs before issuing any public statement.

“We came for a consultation with the President, and we are finished. So we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow, we will get the outcome,” Ajaero said, stressing that decisions within the congress are collective.

Also present at the meeting was Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, who emphasised that sustained dialogue remains the preferred approach to resolving issues between labour and the government.

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“Consultation is going on. We were dialoguing, and like he (Ajaero) said, at the end of the day, you will know what you are supposed to know and what you want to know,” Uzodinma said. He added that all parties were acting in the national interest.

The Minister of State for Labour, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, also praised the meeting, saying labour leaders welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with the President and were reassured by the discussions. “They are happy they’ve had firsthand engagement and that at least the President has driven the economy out of the woods,” she noted.

Labour leaders are expected to reconvene internal meetings, after which a clearer position on next steps and the planned nationwide protests is likely to be announced.

This engagement highlights the federal government’s ongoing efforts to maintain industrial peace, address security concerns, and foster collaborative dialogue with organised labour in Nigeria.

Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats