A Lagos State District Coroner, Mrs Temitope Oladele, investigating the death of Mr Pelumi Onifade, a reporter with Gboah TV who reportedly died in Police custody during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, has ordered that contempt proceedings be initiated against the Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital in Lagos for failing to comply with an order to produce hospital records relating to the deposit, release or current status of the remains of the late journalist.

The Coroner directed at the resumption of proceedings in the inquest on October 7, 2025, that “Form 48” be issued, together with a Certified True Copy of the court’s order, and served on the Medical Director or any other authourized representative of the hospital. Form 48, otherwise known as “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order”, is used to initiate committal proceedings when a person or entity has failed to obey a valid court order.

The order directing the hospital to produce the records relating to the deposit, release or current status of the remains of the late Mr. Onifade was first made by the investigating magistrate on August 8, 2025, following an application made by Mr. Monday Arunsi, lawyer to Media Rights Agenda (MRA) after he reported that that the Medical Director had refused to release the information on the ground that medical records are confidential.

The coroner’s inquest into the death of Mr. Onifade, who was reportedly arrested by policemen attached to a Lagos state taskforce while he was covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020, and later found dead at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary, was convened on the orders of a Federal High Court in Lagos following a wrongful death suit brought against the Police and the Lagos State Government by MRA demanding, among other things, an investigation into the late journalist’s death.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Mr. Samuel Adebola of the law firm of Charles Musa & Co., leading Mr. Arunsi, on behalf of MRA and Mr. Onifade’s family, told the Coroner that in compliance with the directive issued during the last sitting, Mr. Arunsi and another lawyer from the law firm of Charles Musa & Co., Ms. Jennifer Wala, visited the Hospital on October 2, 2025 to meet with the Medical Director but were asked to wait as the Medical Director was said to be in a meeting.

He said that despite waiting for over five hours, the Medical Director failed to attend to them.

Mr. Adebola insisted that the Medical Director and the hospital had been duly served with the order on August 26, 2025 and that although more than a month had passed since then, they had not complied with the order or indicated any intention to comply even though the order required them to produce the records within seven days of receipt of the order.

He therefore applied that the Medical Director be cited for contempt of court.

The Coroner granted the application and directed that Form 48 be issued and served along with a Certified True Copy of the order on the Medical Director or any other authorized representative of the hospital.

She thereafter adjourned further hearing on the inquest to October 22, 2025.

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations against Banks’ Fraudulent Practices and Customers’ Victimisation, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest at the Abuja headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Abuja branch of Sterling Bank Plc.

At the apex bank’s office, the group submitted a petition, which was received by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Central Bank of Nigeria.

The petition, dated Monday, 6th October 2025, was addressed to Mr Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja.

The protesters displayed placards with several inscriptions like ‘conspiracy’, ‘forgery’, ‘criminal breach of trust’, ‘taking a loan is not a crime’, ‘Sterling Bank Plc stop suffocating your customers ‘, ‘theft’, ‘make loan repayment transparent’, etc.

Comrade Flora Elekwa, Director of Mobilisation and Advocacy of the CSO, told officials of the CBN that the trend of fraudulent activities occasioned by unwarranted deductions is becoming alarming and portrays the banking sector in a bad light.

The petition was signed by Comrade (Dr.) Sam Wisdom, National Coordinator; Comrade Flora Elekwa, Director, Mobilisation and Advocacy; and Lady Cecilia Bisong, National Organising Secretary.

The CSO stated that it is common knowledge that for a long time, bank customers have been at the mercy of some banks, which on a regular basis debit them for all manner of reasons, some of which are questionable, including hidden charges. She said the coalition was starting with Sterling Bank on Monday and would picket other banks later.

When put together, according to Mrs Elekwa, “these charges amount to loss of millions of Naira by bank customers to the effect that banks declare trillions yearly as profit at the detriment of the customers who lacked the voice to complain.

“Even the regulatory agencies seem to be helpless in this situation.

“The street protest and advocacy match was aimed at drawing the attention of the government, regulatory authorities, and the general public to these unwholesome, illegal practices with a view to rectifying the situation”, Mrs Elekwa said.

Particularly, the group pleaded with the CBN as a supervisory government agency responsible for monitoring and supervision of all banks and financial institutions in Nigeria to immediately ask the Management of a new generation bank to meet the Management of Miden Systems Ltd and harmonize the accounts and refund the company it’s money.

The company alleged that the bank through its Chief Executive Officer together with the bank’s Financial Holdings Company Plc and four other defendants used it’s name to open various spurious accounts through which it allegedly syphoned the company’s funds domiciled with the bank up to the tune of over $200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million Dollars).

According to the Company, allegely, “Funds were moved and misappropriated by the bank at reckless abandon with huge and massive spurious debits to the company’s account.

The Company further stated that in line with standard bank practices and extant applicable laws, it continuously and consistently demanded for its statement of account”.

However, the company alleged that the bank rather than do so, denied it access to its funds, the group stated in the petition.

Responding, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, assured the protesters that their grievances would be addressed, and thanked the group for organizing a peaceful protest.

Similarly, the group headed to the office of Sterling Bank in Abuja’s Central Business District, to submit a petition.

However, the bank authorities didn’t come out to address the group of protesters who felt slighted and disrespected.

For over two hours, the about 500 protesters occupied the frontage of the bank’s office, chanting songs, while many passers by joined them, and voiced out their anger against the punitive charges many banks make against their customers.

The two day protest is billed to continue on Tuesday. END.

…..EVC Dr Aminu Maida Urges States to Waive Right-of-Way Fees, Safeguard Critical National Assets

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal and State Governments to accelerate broadband investments and safeguard critical national infrastructure. He made the call during a Business Roundtable on “Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure”, held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the NCC Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja.

The event, themed “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity,” brought together governors, policymakers, telecom operators, and stakeholders in the ICT ecosystem.

In his keynote remarks, Dr Maida underscored the vital role of connectivity in national development, describing broadband access as “the quiet enabler of productivity, innovation, and security.” He emphasised that reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access is essential for Nigeria’s economic inclusion and resilience.

“When connectivity fails, opportunities evaporate, productivity stalls—and in critical situations, lives can be put at risk,” Maida said, adding that nations that harnessed new technologies such as steam, electricity, and now broadband always gain a competitive edge.

The EVC noted that as of August 2025, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at 48.81%, with over 140 million people having access to the internet. He stressed that a 10% increase in broadband penetration could boost Nigeria’s GDP by up to 1.38%, urging states to embrace policies that encourage private investment and infrastructure rollout.

Progress Under the National Broadband Plan

Dr. Maida highlighted the achievements of the Commission under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in implementing the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025). The plan targets 70% broadband penetration and the deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone by the end of 2025.

He cited key interventions by the NCC, including:

1. Implementation of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order**, signed by President Tinubu in June 2024, which mandates the protection of telecom assets and empowers law enforcement agencies to act against vandalism and theft.
2. Advocacy on Right of Way (RoW) charges, which has led to 11 states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Benue, and Zamfara, waiving RoW fees entirely, while 17 others have capped it at ₦145 per metre.
3. New tariff approvals that strengthen investor confidence and have prompted operators to commit over $1 billion in additional broadband rollout investments.
4. Wholesale Fibre Study to enhance infrastructure sharing among providers and improve last-mile connectivity.
5. Transparency initiatives, including performance disclosures and service quality dashboards to improve industry accountability.

Challenges and the Call to Action

Despite the progress, Maida decried the persistent challenge of infrastructure vandalism, revealing that between January and August 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre cuts, 3,241 equipment thefts, and over 19,000 cases of denial of access to telecom sites.

He also identified high RoW fees, multiple taxation, inconsistent regulatory enforcement, and power supply issues as major impediments to broadband expansion.

“If our broadband backbone is weak, our youth will be marginalised, and our economy will not achieve its full potential,” the EVC warned.

Dr Maida urged state governors to partner with the NCC in operationalising telecom infrastructure protection, adopting uniform RoW policies, and promoting dig once” coordination to prevent accidental fibre cuts. He also encouraged states to establish digital infrastructure funds and support renewable energy solutions at telecom sites.

New Initiatives Announced

The EVC revealed that the NCC will soon launch two major initiatives to support digital development across Nigeria:

1. The Ease of Doing Business Portal, a one-stop platform linking investors with information and processes across all 36 states and the FCT.
2. The Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI), an annual scorecard to assess and publish each state’s digital readiness and competitiveness.

Dr Maida concluded by reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to driving inclusive connectivity and digital transformation nationwide.

“Pipelines of oil are giving way to pipelines of fibre,” he stated. “The digital revolution will not wait. Together, we must align, invest, and protect so that Nigeria’s youth become creators, not just consumers, of digital value.”

….. Demands Immediate Arrest of Osun Amotekun Commandant, Others

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) has strongly condemned what it described as the barbaric and senseless extrajudicial killing of some young citizens of Akinlalu Town, Osun State, by operatives of the Osun State Amotekun Corps. The group said the incident, which has thrown the entire community into mourning, represents one of the worst acts of state-backed brutality in recent times.

In a statement signed by Comrade Olufemi Lawson, the General Secretary of the organisation, CD described the killings as “a cold-blooded massacre that has once again exposed the deep rot, lack of training, and complete absence of professionalism within the Osun Amotekun Corps.”

According to Lawson, “It is unacceptable that a security outfit established to protect the people has now turned its weapons against innocent young citizens. The killing of these youths, some of whom were siblings, is not only tragic but criminal. Those responsible must be brought to book without delay.”

The statement further accused the Commandant of the Osun State Amotekun Corps, Adekunle Omoyele, of gross misconduct and long-standing notoriety. “We are aware of the dark record of Commandant Adekunle Omoyele, even during his time as an officer in the Nigeria Police Force, where he was repeatedly linked to cases of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses. His continued reign of terror under the cover of Amotekun cannot be tolerated any longer,” CD declared.

The group demanded that the Nigeria Police must immediately arrest and investigate Commandant Omoyele over the latest killing and reopen all previous allegations of human rights violations linked to him. It also called on the Osun State Government to urgently reorganise and reform the Amotekun Corps to prevent further abuse and restore public confidence in community-based security operations.

“Justice must be served for the murdered youths of Akinlalu. We will not relent until every officer involved in this heinous act is made to face the full weight of the law,” the statement added.

The Campaign for Democracy warned that any attempt to cover up or protect the perpetrators will be met with nationwide resistance from the civil society community and the families of the victims.

“We owe it to the memory of these young Nigerians to ensure that their killers do not escape justice, no matter how highly placed,” Comrade Lawson concluded.

…. Again, Warns Bayelsa West Appointees

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has given AITEO Exploration and Production Company Limited, operating in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state, a one-month ultimatum to remit funds due to the Bassambiri community in order to enhance peace efforts in the area.

Governor Diri issued the directive on Wednesday, following the submission of the Opu Nembe (Bassambiri) Peace Steering Committee’s report on the protracted crisis in the community.

According to a press release on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the chairman, Vice Admiral Victor Ombu (rtd), presented the report during the 173rd session of the state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.

Senator Diri lauded the panel led by a former Chief of the Naval Staff for the peace-building effort in the community.

He said his name would be indelible in the history of the community for accepting to chair of the committee towards restoring lasting peace in Bassambiri.

The Bayelsa governor expressed concern that for over three decades, the community had been embroiled in intractable conflicts among people he described as brothers, and appealed that it was time to embrace peace for the sake of posterity.

His words: “For Bassambiri to be in dispute for the past three decades is unthinkable. We cannot continue to play politics with lives of the people. It is time to sheathe the sword and embrace peace, development and progress.

“From day one of my administration, l started preaching peace and reconciliation. Again, l call on Bassambiri to show light where there is darkness. We cannot continue to go around the same process in restoring peace. Peace is priceless, and we cannot sacrifice unity on the altar of politics.”

The governor asked AITEO to remit funds due to the community to the Peace Steering Committee in line with his administration’s earlier directive as part of efforts to promote peace.

“I call on AITEO to help build the ongoing peace process. It should remit every kobo to the Peace Steering Committee in line with my earlier directive four months ago. In the next one month, AITEO should comply. I do not want to hear that they are still in default of my directive.

Senator Diri assured the committee, which was constituted in September 2024, that its recommendations would be implemented and directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to carry out an assessment with a view to constructing a link road in the community and submit a report within two weeks.

The governor, who also admonished the people of Bayelsa West senatorial district against early political campaigns, cautioned his appointees in the district to desist from campaigns of calumny and heating up of the polity.

“I want to warn all those from the west senatorial district who are publicly or making clandestine moves for the positions of Senate and House of Representatives to stop the campaigns of calumny. I had earlier cautioned them, but now I am issuing a warning to them to stop heating up the polity.”

Presenting the report, Admiral Ombu expressed gratitude to the governor for allowing them to serve.

He also thanked him for not interfering in the activities of the committee, stating that the panel conducted its meetings in an environment of civility and mutual respect.

The committee made several recommendations, which included enhanced security presence in Bassambiri, constructing a road to link the Unity Bridge, and that certain conditions be met before the conduct of the election in the community.

It also recommended the promulgation of a kingdom-wide constitution, that oil companies be made to be alive to their corporate social responsibilities and in agreements entered into with the community, as well as the enthronement of freedom of association and choice in Bassambiri.