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Saraki Assembles Sans To Battle Police Over Invitation

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The Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Rafiu Ibrahim , has said a team of senior legal experts will handle the allegation of complicity in the Offa robbery saga levelled against the President of the Senate , Bukola Saraki, by the police .

The police have insisted that Saraki is needed to make certain clarifications on the statement of the suspects arrested in connection with the robbery despite the legal advice from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , which absolved the Senate President of any complicity in the act .

But Ibrahim , who is among the 14 senators , who defected from the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that Saraki’ s lawyers , who are mainly Senior Advocates of Nigeria , were already brainstorming on the case .

The Senator ’ s clarification appears to be an indication that the Senate President may not honour the police invitation and would rather ask his lawyers to handle the matter.

His declaration came on the heels of the insistence of the Force PRO, Moshood Jimoh , that Saraki still had a case to answer notwithstanding the fact that a team of investigators grilled the Senate President last week in his office .

Ibrahim said , “ The Senate President has a very strong legal team of many senior advocates of Nigeria who are already working on the issue. He has a legal issue with the police and he will take the case up legally . ”

He explained that the executive arm of government bungled a fresh strategy that was being coordinated by Saraki aimed at reconciling aggrieved federal lawmakers with the APC leadership when the police reportedly barricaded the Senate principal officers’ homes in Abuja .

He said , “As we were strategising on how to convince our members to let us reconsider our stand and shelve our plans to defect , the police brought a letter by 8 pm on Monday , asking the Senate President to appear before them by 8 am on Tuesday.

“ The following day, very early in the morning, the EFCC went to the house of the Deputy Senate President , Ike Ekweremadu , blocked his house and successfully ensured that he did not go out.

“Simultaneously , some policemen were also at the home of the Senate President with a specific instruction to prevent him from leaving his house . Those who could carry out such actions could as well kill the principal officers or bomb their houses.

“ My concern at the moment is to ensure that the Senate President is alive . The agents of government are getting desperate just to actualise their plans. ”

Ibrahim added , “ Their plan was to ensure that the two of them were not available for plenary on Tuesday so that some senators could remove Saraki and Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively .

“ However , God , in his infinite mercies and powers , used some people to disorganise their plans by helping Saraki to preside over plenary on Tuesday. It was God , nothing else .

“ We adjourned abruptly on Tuesday because the federal authorities deployed armed policemen who laid siege to the residences of our presiding officers.

“ If they can put the SP and the DSP under house arrest , what stopped them from arresting senators on the streets of Abuja and institute frivolous litigation against them ?”

The senator added that members ’ defection on the floor of the National Assembly chambers would be in phases . ”

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Anyone Opposing U.S. Strikes Is Nigeria’s Enemy or Profiting From Insecurity — Ex-General Enenche

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A former Nigerian military general, Enenche, has described opposition to United States support and strikes against terrorists as unpatriotic, insisting that such resistance only aids insecurity or serves personal interests.
Reflecting on his experience in active combat zones over two decades ago, Enenche said he witnessed firsthand the human cost of insecurity. According to him, security goes beyond the battlefield, affecting human lives, the economy, and even cyber space.
“As a military man who fought in that area over 20 years ago, I saw with my own eyes the casualties, the rage and the devastation. When you talk about security, you are talking about human security, economic security, cyber security. It affects everyone,” he said.
He welcomed the United States’ decision to support Nigeria, describing it as a positive development for the country. Enenche referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to assist Nigeria, noting that such cooperation signals hope rather than danger.
“America has come out boldly to say, ‘We are going to help you’. President Donald Trump said they will assist Nigeria. For me, this is the beginning of good things to come for this country,” he stated.
The retired general criticized individuals who consistently oppose foreign support, accusing them of spreading fear and pessimism.
“Where some people see negatives, we should see positives. Those who constantly project fear and pessimism, I see them as enemies of this country,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with Nigeria’s past peacekeeping missions, Enenche questioned why similar objections were not raised when Nigerian troops intervened in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Congo.
“Anytime Nigerians cooperate and act as a team, we get results,” he added.
He further clarified that while foreign allies may not deploy ground troops, Nigeria must still take responsibility for on-ground operations, with strong backing from state and local governments.
“They may not put boots on the ground, but we must do the foot-on-ground work. We must deploy the necessary resources, and that is where state governments and local governments must support this effort,” he said.
Highlighting the sophistication of recent operations, Enenche emphasized that the strikes were intelligence-driven and precise, targeting terrorist strongholds.
“Look at the capacity, look at the weapons used. Do we have that capability? This was intelligence-driven and precise. These terrorists do not want to be followed to their staging or assembly areas,” he concluded.

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‘Give Them Their Money Directly’ — Tinubu Warns Governors Over LG Allocations

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern warning to state governors over the handling of Local Government (LG) allocations, insisting that funds meant for LGs must be paid directly to them in line with the Supreme Court judgment.
Speaking on Friday at the 15th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Tinubu stressed that the apex court has once again made its position clear, leaving no room for ambiguity. According to him, compliance is no longer optional, as the judgment is binding on all tiers of government.
“The Supreme Court has capped it for you again, saying, ‘give them their money directly’. If you wait for my Executive Order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it,” the President said, adding that he has chosen to be patient and respectful with governors.
However, Tinubu warned that continued delay or refusal to implement the ruling would attract consequences, noting that enforcement could begin through FAAC disbursements if necessary.
Emphasizing the rule of law, the President said the ultimate authority remains the Supreme Court and its judgment must be obeyed without excuses.
“We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he concluded.

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‘I’ve Bragged To U.S., EU Partners That Nigeria Will Implement State Police To Tackle Insecurity’ — Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing state police as a key strategy to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, revealing that he has already communicated this resolve to international partners in the United States and the European Union.

According to the President, insecurity remains one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria, and addressing it requires bold structural reforms beyond conventional federal policing. Tinubu stated that the current centralized policing system is overstretched and inadequate for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria, making decentralised policing an urgent necessity.

He explained that state police would allow for better intelligence gathering, quicker response times, and security solutions tailored to local realities. By empowering states to take greater responsibility for security within their territories, the federal government believes crimes such as banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence can be tackled more effectively.

Tinubu also noted that discussions around state police are ongoing, involving consultations with state governments, the National Assembly, and other key stakeholders. He emphasized that proper legal frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and safeguards would be put in place to prevent abuse of power.

The President’s statement signals a renewed push for constitutional reforms that have long been debated in Nigeria. Many security experts and political leaders have argued that state police could strengthen internal security, while critics have raised concerns about potential misuse by state actors.

By openly assuring international partners of Nigeria’s intention to implement state police, Tinubu appears determined to move the conversation from debate to action, positioning the reform as a cornerstone of his administration’s security agenda.

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