metro
Abeokuta-based blogger languishing in jail ‘on Gov Abiodun’s orders – Investigation
The State Security Service (SSS), Ogun State, has taken Olamilekan Hammed, a blogger and publisher of EaglesForeSight, to court for a report on Dapo Abiodun, the state governor.
Documents made available to FIJ reveal the SSS is accusing Hammed of defamation of character and cybercrime, citing a publication made by the blogger on April 23, 2022. The publication was titled ‘2023; I Was Arrested (convicted) for Fraud in US, But APC Lacks Power to Disqualify Me — Governor Abiodun Bragged’.
FIJ understands Hammed was forced by the DSS to delete the publication from his website.
He was first arrested on April 29, six days after the publication, and released on bail. He was rearrested on May 13, 2022, and has been in detention ever since.
FIJ understands Hammed was accused of collecting money from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a major opposition party in the state, and taken by the SSS to Ibara Correctional Facility on April 29.
“The first charge they brought against me was that I quoted the PDP in the story on how he was arrested in the USA on money laundering charges. They forced me to pull it down, but despite pulling it down, they are still using it against me,” he told FIJ.
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“The DSS arrested me at about 9:40 am on April 29. I was coming out of Conference Hotel, Abeokuta, when I saw their Hilux. I recognised them but they handcuffed me immediately, masked me and took me away.
“I did not see anything until 6 pm when they started interrogating me. From morning till 6 pm, I was in handcuffs and a mask. During the interrogation, they asked who sponsored the story and I told them no one paid me to conjecture the story.
“They told me to bail myself and provide a surety. I did, and was released at night, sometime around 9:20 pm.”
Hammed went home that night and things seemingly went back to normal. But a week after, he made a WhatsApp post on his experience with the secret service, not knowing they had succeeded in infiltrating his phone and had been monitoring. They arrested him again.
Someone who saw the status told FIJ it was along the lines of: “My ordeal in the hands of government last week: I met myself in the lions’ den. I was silenced, but maybe one day I will be able to say my mind out.”
After the second invitation, Hammed was handcuffed and detained, before he was later arraigned before a judge at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, where he is to appear on Tuesday.
FIJ made several calls to Kunle Somorin, Dapo Abiodun’s chief press secretary, for comments, but he did not respond to them. A WhatsApp message sent to his number had also not been responded to at press time.
metro
BREAKING: Again, Nigerians thrown into darkness as national grid collapses
BREAKING: Again, Nigerians thrown into darkness as national grid collapses
Nigeria’s national power grid has collapsed for the second time in just three days, leaving millions of households and businesses without electricity and disrupting daily life across the nation.
The latest grid failure, occurring in the early hours, has impacted both urban and rural areas, affecting power distribution to key regions and essential services alike.
The frequency of these grid failures has raised widespread concern, with households and businesses in various states reporting sudden power losses and no clear timeline for restoration.
This situation has intensified frustration among citizens, who rely on consistent electricity for both personal and professional needs.
Experts attribute these repeated failures to a range of long-standing issues plaguing Nigeria’s power infrastructure. Chronic underinvestment, aging equipment, and inadequate maintenance have all been cited as contributing factors to the grid’s instability.
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The repeated disruptions have significantly affected productivity, business operations, and overall quality of life, prompting calls for urgent reforms.
Stakeholders in the power sector are pushing for large-scale investments in infrastructure and a strategic approach to maintenance as essential steps toward stabilizing the grid.
Many also advocate for diversifying Nigeria’s energy sources, suggesting that a mix of renewable energy options could reduce dependency on a single, central grid system.
This shift, they argue, could help prevent future collapses and ensure a more reliable power supply for millions of Nigerians.
With each blackout, the need for a robust, sustainable solution becomes more pressing.
As Nigeria continues to develop economically, addressing these power challenges will be crucial for supporting growth, improving the standard of living, and meeting the demands of a modern, energy-dependent society.
BREAKING: Again, Nigerians thrown into darkness as national grid collapses
metro
Ex-NYSC member kidnapped after passing out parade in Kebbi
Ex-NYSC member kidnapped after passing out parade in Kebbi
metro
Tax reform: Tinubu should unite, not divide Nigeria, says Bauchi gov
Tax reform: Tinubu should unite, not divide Nigeria, says Bauchi gov
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the recently proposed tax reform bills, urging that they be reviewed with a focus on unity rather than division.
He appealed to the president to halt the bills’ progress and conduct wide consultations to ensure they were fair and balanced before being passed into law.
The proposals, particularly the shift to a derivative-based model for distributing value-added tax (VAT), sparked strong objections from northern governors and traditional leaders.
They argue that the model would disproportionately disadvantage less industrialised regions, especially the northern states.
Despite these concerns, the president has rejected calls to withdraw the bills.
Speaking on BBC Hausa Service, Governor Bala warned that the proposed tax reforms would worsen the economic hardship already faced by many northern states.
“Any reform to the tax bill, as it stands, is a recipe for further impoverishment of the north. What we need is a debate on a tax system that will not harm any region,” Governor Mohammed said.
He explained that northern states, many of which already face significant financial challenges, would be further strained by the proposed tax model. For instance, he pointed out that Bauchi State struggles to meet its salary obligations due to insufficient funds.
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“We receive about N2 billion in monthly federal allocation, but our salary bill stands at N4 billion, with local government salaries alone amounting to N3 billion. We also do not receive any derivatives from oil sales due to the current revenue-sharing formula,” he added.
He explained that while northern states are major consumers of goods and services-especially in industries like telecommunications-the tax revenue generated by these sectors often benefits southern states, where the companies’ headquarters are located.
This uneven distribution, according to Governor Bala, exacerbated the financial difficulties of northern states, urging the president to address this disparity and ensure that all regions are fairly represented in the revenue-sharing process.
“We are operating a federal system, and we are one country. No state or region should be disadvantaged in the distribution of revenue,” Governor Bala said.
He also expressed frustration at what he perceived as the president’s lack of willingness to address the concerns raised by northern leaders.
“If the federal government persists with this reform, we will be forced to mobilise our federal lawmakers, who are numerous, to block the bill,” he warned.
“It is as though the President wants to suffocate us, and we are not going to fold our arms or accept this,” he added.
The Bauchi governor also urged President Tinubu to reconsider his stance, reminding him that Nigeria operates under a democratic system where the voices of the people, through their representatives, should be respected.
He pointed out that even the president’s deputy, Kashim Shettima, and other representatives had already objected to the bill and called for its amendment.
Governor Mohammed called for a national dialogue on tax reform, one that aims to unite the country rather than divide it, ensuring that all regions are included in the pursuit of economic fairness and growth.
Tax reform: Tinubu should unite, not divide Nigeria, says Bauchi gov
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