FCT Poll: Falana Queries Wike’s Power to Declare Public Holiday - Newstrends
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FCT Poll: Falana Queries Wike’s Power to Declare Public Holiday

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Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana

FCT Poll: Falana Queries Wike’s Power to Declare Public Holiday

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to publicly cite any law empowering him to declare a public holiday or impose movement restrictions during the recently concluded FCT area council election.

Falana insisted that the minister acted outside the law, arguing that the authority to declare public holidays in Nigeria does not reside with the FCT minister. According to him, only the President, the Minister of Interior, and state governors are legally authorised to announce federal or state holidays.

The senior lawyer criticised the declaration of a work-free day ahead of the election, saying it amounted to an abuse of executive power and a dangerous precedent capable of undermining constitutional governance.

Wike had earlier defended his decision, claiming he acted with the consent of the President after receiving a security report suggesting that some individuals planned to transport troublemakers into the Federal Capital Territory to disrupt the polls. He also cautioned Falana against commenting on every national issue without verifying facts.

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However, Falana, in a statement issued on Monday, dismissed the minister’s justification, stressing that even the President lacks the constitutional power to issue directives concerning the conduct of elections.

“The minister’s defence that the President authorised him to order the restriction of movement is illegal, as the President has no power whatsoever to direct how elections are conducted in Nigeria,” Falana said.

He referenced Section 160(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that the commission’s powers to regulate elections are not subject to presidential or ministerial control.

Falana further questioned Wike’s conduct on election day, pointing out that the minister is not a registered voter in the FCT and should therefore have strictly complied with the restriction order he announced.

“I challenge the FCT Minister to refer to any law that empowers him to declare a public holiday or restrict the movement of citizens during the Area Council election,” Falana said.

“Assuming, without conceding, that the President authorised movement restriction, did that authorisation include declaring a public holiday? Did the minister himself comply with the restriction order? Did it permit him to move around or interfere with electoral officers?”

The dispute has reignited national debate over ministerial powers in the FCT, election-day movement restrictions, and the need to protect INEC’s independence from executive interference.

Legal observers say the controversy highlights the importance of strict adherence to constitutional provisions to preserve public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

FCT Poll: Falana Queries Wike’s Power to Declare Public Holiday

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MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi

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MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged murder of Pa Biliaminu Taiwo in Fiditi, Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, in November 2019.

 

The organisation also called for appropriate legal action against Ojo Akinlabi, following his reported arrest in connection with the killing.

 

In a press release dated October 23, 2026, MURIC said the petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police on October 22 and acknowledged by the commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan.

 

According to the organisation, Pa Taiwo was allegedly hacked to death inside a mosque in Fiditi in November 2019.

MURIC urged the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the case and ensure that anyone found culpable was prosecuted in accordance with the law.

 

The group also called on the authorities to ensure that the case was handled in a manner that would prevent justice from being frustrated.

 

“Murder is not a bailable offence,” the organisation said, urging the police to ensure that the suspect was brought before a court of competent jurisdiction and that any decision concerning his custody or release complied with the law.

 

MURIC further alleged that Akinlabi had a history of violent attacks, including incidents involving the use of knives allegedly coated with poison. However, the organisation did not provide supporting details of the alleged incidents in the statement.

 

The group described the allegations as a matter of concern and called for appropriate action by the relevant authorities.

 

Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of human rights and the rule of law, MURIC said allegations of criminal conduct should receive the attention of law enforcement agencies and be subjected to due process.

 

The statement was signed by Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Secretary of MURIC in Oyo State.

 

The organisation concluded its appeal with the declaration: “Justice delayed must not become justice denied.”

 

As of the time of the statement, MURIC had not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest or the current status of the police investigation. The allegations against Akinlabi have not been independently verified, and any determination of criminal responsibility remains a matter for the courts.

 

MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi

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Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja

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Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja

ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a man accused of impersonating a permanent secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) after he was allegedly caught using a forged number plate bearing the inscription “PRESIDENCY”.

The suspect was arrested on October 20, 2026, after police operatives intercepted a Lexus LX570 sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Maitama District, Abuja, at about 8pm.

According to the police, the concealed number plate carried the registration number 10B218 FG.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the documents presented to support the registration were allegedly forged.

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Adeh said the suspect had claimed to be the legitimate holder of the number plate, prompting further investigations that reportedly uncovered the alleged fraud and impersonation.

“The vehicle and its occupant were promptly arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution,” the police said.

The command added that investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court upon their conclusion.

The police urged residents to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security operatives and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

The arrest comes amid concerns over the unauthorised use of official government and diplomatic number plates in the FCT. Police authorities have previously raised concerns that such plates could be used by unauthorised individuals to evade scrutiny or facilitate criminal activities.

The suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and the allegations remain subject to the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.

Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja

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Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage

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Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage

 

Accra, Ghana — A routine breakup escalated into a catastrophic act of arson this week, leaving a young man homeless and his former girlfriend in police custody. The Ghana Police Service has arrested a young woman accused of deliberately setting her boyfriend’s rented apartment on fire after he ended their relationship. The shocking trigger for the split? The woman had answered a phone call on his mobile device without his permission.

 

According to preliminary police investigations, the couple became embroiled in a volatile and heated argument over the breach of privacy. The confrontation spiraled rapidly out of control when the boyfriend, reportedly furious that she had answered his phone, decided to end the relationship on the spot. Rather than accepting the breakup, the woman’s anger reportedly boiled over into a dangerous and premeditated rage.

 

In the aftermath of the breakup, authorities allege that the woman intentionally ignited a fire inside the man’s rented home in an act of vengeance. Eyewitnesses described a scene of sheer chaos as flames rapidly consumed the residence, forcing neighbors to flee and local fire services to be summoned to battle the inferno. Dramatic images from the scene reveal a landscape of utter devastation, with the apartment reduced to a pile of charred debris and twisted metal. While no casualties have been reported, the property damage is extensive, and the young man has effectively lost his home and belongings.

 

The Ghana Police Service acted swiftly following the incident, apprehending the young woman who is now in police custody facing potential charges of arson and destruction of property. Local neighbors have expressed profound shock at the severity of the attack, with one bewildered resident telling reporters, “It is just a phone call. To burn down a whole apartment because you were broken up with? It is a very sad day for us here.” The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days as the police finalize their case, serving as a chilling reminder of the dangerous consequences of unchecked anger.

 

Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage

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