POLITICS
Panel of Inquiries: Foundation Decries Non-Compliance by Security personnel
Cleen Foundation, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), on Tuesday decried non-compliance by security officials to the `EndSars’ Judicial Panel of Inquiries set up in various states across the country.
Mr Benson Olugbuo, Executive Director of the Foundation said this at an online stakeholder’s dialogue on “Cases of Missing Persons in Nigeria’’.
Olugbuo said that the Foundation had observed, monitored and documented findings of the judicial panels of inquiries in January through legal practitioners and state-based partners deployed in various states.
“The reports submitted were by an instrument developed to collect data on the total number of cases submitted, type of human rights violations, number of cases ongoing or concluded and other relevant information.
“It showed an observatory reported high rate of non-compliance to panel rulings and evasion of service process by security operatives across most states of the federation.
`For instance, in Lagos state, the military refused to enter appearance at the panel proceedings in spite of rulings to that effect.
“Similarly, in Akwa-Ibom, petitions before the panel suffers adjournment due to the manner in which police officers evade summons,’’ he said.
Olugbuo noted that the ceaseless adjournments had made the legal unit of Akwa-Ibom State Police Command to seek more time to enable it locate its accused officers, thereby, delaying petitions.
He alleged that in Bayelsa, police officers who had been petitioned by the public have either retired from the Nigeria Police Force or have been transferred to other state commands hence delaying the panel sittings.
The executive director also alleged that military personnel in the states petitioned to the panel were also refusing to appear and do not send legal representations.
He said that in Edo, it was the same scenario where the chairperson of the panel of inquiry complained of the unwillingness of both the police and the army to appear before it.
Olugbuo said that in Imo, the refusal of police officers to appear before the panel was gradually stalling proceedings.
However, Mr Emmanuel Ikule, the National Coordinator of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), said it observed that complainants in some states had also refused to appear before the panel.
Ikule said that complainants were refusing to appear and pursue their cases to a logical conclusion even with legal representation.
According to him, in Benue, 50 per cent of complainants have failed to testify before the panel of inquiry and unfortunately, the complaints are not traceable either by address or their phone contacts.
“Similarly, in Oyo and Delta states, there is apathy by some complainants due to paucity of funds, lack of interest and possible threat from security agents,’’ he said.
Ikule claimed that about 82 cases were struck out in January by various panels of inquiry on issues bordering on lack of jurisdiction, abandonment and lack of diligent prosecution.
He appealed for an increased timeframe for the panels of inquiries, stating that the timeframe for most panels to conclude cases and proffer recommendations were too short due to the volume of cases so far received.
The national coordinator also urged the state government to ensure gender balance in the appointment of panel members across the states.
“This issue of underrepresentation of women in the panels should be revisited by the state governments to ensure fairness and equity in the appointment of panel members.
“Also, the high level of adjournment of cases by the panels should be halted to ensure that the interests of justice for the families of the victims and survivors of police brutality in Nigeria are not hampered,’’ he said.
The groups appealed to the Federal Government that security personnel with petitions leveled against them should be compelled to appear before the panel and adequately respond to issues as it relates to them.
They also appealed to the Nigerian Bar Association (NDA) to intensify efforts in sensitising the public to its ongoing free legal representations.
Both Cleen Foundation and NOPRIN urged the government to offer protection mechanisms to complainants and victims of police brutality.
They also urged state governments without constituted panels of judicial inquiries to constitute such in order to provide justice to victims and survivors of police brutality in the states. (NAN)
The Labour Party has fixed its national convention for April 28 in Umuahia, Abia.
The party also officially released the list of chairmen and members of its electoral sub-committees for the forthcoming congresses in all the states of the federation.
Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Interim National Chairman, Ken Asogwa, made these known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
The party had earlier announced the timetable for its congresses, with ward congresses scheduled for April 23, local government congresses, April 24 and state congresses April 26.
According to Asogwa, the sub-committees, made up of experienced and respected party members, have been constituted to oversee the conduct of the congresses in their respective states.
He listed the chairmen to include: Iheanacho Obioma (Abia); Francis Kim (Adamawa); Ekong Solomon (Akwa Ibom); Chief Tony Asuoha (Anambra); Malam Mustapha Adamu (Bauchi); Beredugo Ebimonyo (Bayelsa) and Chief John Ochoga (Benue).
Others are: Urom Iyang (Cross River); Chuks Onitsha (Delta); Chief Mitchell Nwabueze (Ebonyi); Dr Saliu Edogiawerie (Edo); Usman Mohammed (Niger); Owolabi Ezekiel (Ogun); Charles Afolabi (Ondo); Balogun Ibrahim (Osun); Babatunde Yusuf (Oyo); Fakorede Matthew (Ekiti) and Dr David Ogba (Enugu).
Also included are: Adoga Knaabayi (Gombe); Chinagorom Nwankpa (Imo); Mustapha Garba (Jigawa); Dr Emmanuel Barau (Kaduna); Kabiru Said (Kano); Pastor Ishaku Izang (Plateau); Amaobi Ogah (Rivers); Prof. Muhamuda Muhammad (Sokoto); Jesse Williams (Taraba); Mukhtar Hassan (Yobe) and Haila Baja (Zamfara).
Also, Ismail Bello (Katsina); Muh’d (Birnin Kebbi); Samuel Ajare (Kogi); Bodunde Adebayo (Kwara); Chukwuemeka Ogbanna (Lagos); Dr Muttaqa Yushau (Nasarawa) and Rose Uba-Anarah (FCT).
Asogwa quoted the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Nenadi Usman, as urging the chairmen and members to carry out their responsibilities with utmost fairness, transparency and integrity.
Usman reminded them of the party’s core values of equal opportunity and social justice, urging them to reflect these principles in the discharge of their duties.
She stressed the need for diligence and commitment, noting that the credibility of the party must be upheld throughout the congress process.
The statement assured that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure a smooth, successful, and hitch-free convention.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The Amir and National Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alatoye Abdulazeez, has urged Nigerian youths to unite politically and strategically, identifying Adewole Adebayo as a potential leader capable of driving national transformation if given collective support.
Speaking during an interview, Abdulazeez emphasized that Nigeria’s progress hinges largely on the ability of young people to organize themselves beyond tribal, religious, and financial inducements, and to rally behind credible leadership.
According to him, while several young candidates have emerged in past elections, their failure to build strong alliances allowed older political forces to maintain dominance.
He noted that the case of Adebayo, a lawyer and businessman who contested under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), presents an opportunity for a different political direction if youths can act in unity.
“If the younger generation is sure that Adewole Adebayo can deliver, they should team up with him, get things right, and encourage other youths across tribes to see themselves as one,” Abdulazeez said.
He stressed that Nigeria is currently in what he described as a “storming stage” of nationhood, where divisions along ethnic and regional lines continue to hinder development.
He warned that unless a “national norm” is established—where citizens prioritize unity over sectional interests—the country may struggle to reach its full potential.
The cleric further advised youths to avoid electoral inducement and reject divisive politics, urging them instead to focus on long-term nation-building.
“We must move from where we are to the next stage. Otherwise, we will keep moving in the same direction,” he added.
Beyond politics, Abdulazeez reiterated the Ahmadiyya motto, “Love for All, Hatred for None,” as a guiding principle for national cohesion, stressing that religion should be a force for peace rather than division.
He condemned terrorism and violence carried out in the name of religion, insisting that such acts contradict Islamic teachings.
On governance, he acknowledged efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that while progress has been made in some areas, more attention is needed in critical sectors such as power and economic management.
Abdulazeez concluded with a call for collective responsibility among citizens, particularly the youth, to reshape Nigeria’s future through unity, moral discipline, and active participation in governance.
“Leadership is not just about those in office,” he said. “It is also about those who choose them.”
End
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) have released a revised timetable for the 2026 local government elections.
ENSIEC Chairman, Prof. Christian Ngwu, presented the updated schedule to journalists in Enugu.
Ngwu said the framework outlines activities leading to elections on Sept.
26 and re-run polls on Oct. 10.He explained the adjustments followed the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
“The revised timetable aligns with the new law and other relevant statutes guiding elections in the state,” he said.
He recalled ENSIEC earlier issued a notice on Aug. 20, 2025 alongside an initial timetable.
According to him, party primaries will be held from Jan. 23 to May 26.
“Campaigns will begin on April 29 and end on Sept. 25, 24 hours before polling,” Ngwu added.
He said submission of nomination forms closes on May 29, while candidates’ particulars will be published on June 19.
“The final list of candidates will be released on July 27,” he stated.
Ngwu added that submission of polling agents ends on Aug. 31, while the official notice of poll comes on Sept. 11.
He confirmed elections will be held on Sept. 26, with voting from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. using the open secret ballot system.
“In case of inconclusive results, re-run elections will be conducted on Oct. 10,” he said.
Ngwu stressed the timetable was issued under the commission’s constitutional mandate and in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
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