The two bogus police officers as Alex Akaeze, 39, and Kadiri Hassan, 45.

Police arrest two bogus inspectors and others over N20 million narcotics.

The Edo State Police Command has unveiled two bogus police inspectors detained in connection with illegal drugs worth N20 million in the state.

Funsho Adegboye, the Commissioner of Police, told reporters in Benin City that they were part of a five-man criminal group that dealt in illicit substances.

He identified the two bogus police officers as Alex Akaeze, 39, and Kadiri Hassan, 45.

He also named other gang members as Ovie Samuel (46), Stanley Itota (45), and Felix Oputi (46).

Adegboye added that the suspects were apprehended by members of the Command’s Intelligence and Rapid Response Squad at Samuel’s guest home at No. 5, Colobus Street, off Upper Mission Extension Road in Benin City.

He stated that the illicit narcotic known as ‘ice’ weighed 1,080 kilograms and had a street value of N20 million.

He stated that the investigation is underway and that the suspects will be charged shortly in court.

In an interview with journalists, one of the accused, Akaeze, stated that he joined the Police Force in 2009.

Akaeze, who insisted he is a Police Inspector added that he was transferred to Zamfara State from AIG Zone 2, Lagos State.

He also named other gang members as Ovie Samuel (46), Stanley Itota (45), and Felix Oputi (46).

According to him, “I am an Inspector of Police. I was enlisted in 2009, I started in Ketu, and from there to SARS. I was transferred to Zamfara, but I did not go.

“I worked myself back to Zone 2, from there I was transferred to Lagos State Command, from where we were later transferred to Alagbon since September last year, but we were yet to report for duty there.

“These two officers [Command operatives], are our colleagues, we worked together in IRT, I have their phone numbers and I called them before I came down from Lagos and I told them that I have an urgent arrest to make and wanted them to follow us and they agreed.

“Although I told them that I still serve at Alagbon, I didn’t tell them the truth that we have not reported for duty there. We were with them in their office yesterday and they led us to make the arrest.

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“We were however surprised that they suddenly changed it for us and arrested us with the drug dealers”, he added.

On his part, Kadiri Hassan, who also insisted he is a Police Inspector, added that he joined the Police Force in 2008.

He also disclosed that he was yet to report to duty at Alagbon when he was transferred in February this year.

Ovie Samuel, who procured the hard drug, denied knowledge of the trade.

“The people called me and said that they needed ice and I called my brother in Delta State to bring it for them, only for them to reveal their real identities that they are policemen,” he stated.

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Former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has alleged that Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers State, is behaving like a “god” in the political unrest in Rivers State, where he is clashing with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

As Rivers Political Tension Escalates, Asari Dokubo Criticizes Wike: “He Is Now Acting as a Deity”

Dokubo also criticized President Bola Tinubu for giving Wike excessive influence over Rivers and Bayelsa states.

“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo expressed in the video.

“I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man,” he added.

Amid political unrest, Governor Fubara recently highlighted major economic accomplishments during his tenure. He stated that Rivers State’s monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased from N12 billion to N27 billion since he took office.

Dokubo praised this progress but suggested that the governor had only N6 billion at his disposal when he started his term.

“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N25bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he commented.

In a related update, Governor Fubara revealed intentions to form a panel to probe governance matters in the state.

This announcement coincided with the inauguration of Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State.

Additionally, the governor voiced criticism towards the former Attorney General, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, following his recent resignation from the cabinet.

The Nigerian Labour Congress  has revealed that the ongoing nationwide strike will persist despite the agreement reached with the Federal Government during Monday’s meeting.

Minimum Wage: Strike Continues, Await Tuesday Review Meeting – NLC

The strike, which has paralyzed the nation’s economy, will continue until the union’s organs convene on Tuesday to review all resolutions from the previous meeting.

The Federal Government, following a six-hour meeting with organized labour in Abuja, reiterated President Bola Tinubu‘s commitment to increasing the minimum wage to N60,000.

The agreement stated that the President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000.

The Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable National Minimum Wage. The organized labor also agreed to hold meetings of its organs immediately to consider this new offer, ensuring no worker would face victimization for participating in the industrial action.

These resolutions were signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

The organized labor was represented by Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, and Festus Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress.

The former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has been acquitted of murder charges by the Kano State Government.

Ado Doguwa Acquitted of Murder Charges by Court; Kano Govt Ordered to Pay ₦25 Million in Damages

The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Kano State Government must pay Ado Doguwa ₦25 million as compensation for damages.

Ado Doguwa chairs the House Committee on Downstream Petroleum and represents the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in Kano state.

The New National People’s Party (NNPP) government brought the charges against Ado Doguwa hindering his aspirations to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The court found Ado Doguwa falsely accused and awarded him ₦25 million in damages, holding the Kano State Government and police responsible.

Ado Doguwa was initially arrested in Kano by the police and subsequently brought before the court for the murder case.

The previous APC government led by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was set to clear Ado Doguwa of all charges.

The present NNPP government decided to reopen the murder case against Ado Doguwa, alleging his responsibility for the deaths of over 15 individuals from the NNPP party.

Ado Doguwa took legal action against several authorities alleging violations of his rights to personal dignity, freedom, and the right to move freely.

Summary of Torrential Rains and Floods in Niger

Tragedy in Niger: 21 Deceased, 6000 Affected by Devastating Floods and Rains

Impact: Torrential rains and floods in Niger over three weeks left 21 dead and nearly 6,000 affected.

Casualties: 8 drowned, 13 died in collapsed houses, 26 injured, and around 4,000 cattle killed or lost.

Worst Hit Region: Maradi region in central Niger had 14 casualties.

Rainy Season: The rainy season in Niger traditionally runs from June through September.

Previous Year: In 2022, about 195 people were killed and 400,000 affected by similar events.