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NBA Demands Immediate Trial Or Release Of Pastor Detained Over Alleged Wike Plot.

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According to Nivo News, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), has urged the Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Police Force to either promptly charge Pastor Tombari Joseph Gbeneol to court or release him without further delay, following his continued detention over an alleged plot to assassinate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Pastor Gbeneol, a Port Harcourt-based cleric, was reportedly taken into custody after a leaked telephone conversation surfaced online, allegedly linking him and a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, to a plan involving the recruitment of foreign nationals to carry out an attack on the former Rivers governor. The viral audio triggered widespread reactions and prompted police intervention, leading to the pastor’s arrest and detention.

Reacting to the development, Osigwe expressed deep concern over what he described as a violation of constitutional provisions, noting that the prolonged detention of the cleric without formal charges raises serious questions about adherence to the rule of law. In a statement personally signed by him, the NBA president said reports of Gbeneol’s arrest and his continued detention for nearly two weeks without arraignment strike at the heart of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

While acknowledging the duty of law enforcement agencies to safeguard national security and protect public officials, Osigwe stressed that such responsibilities must always be exercised within the confines of the Constitution. He emphasized that security concerns do not override constitutional safeguards, nor do they justify indefinite detention without due process.

The NBA president reiterated that the Constitution guarantees personal liberty and clearly outlines procedures for arrest and detention, including the requirement that any suspect be informed of the allegations against them and brought before a competent court within the time prescribed by law. He maintained that detention beyond these limits, without a valid court order or formal charge, remains unlawful regardless of the gravity of the allegation.

Osigwe further noted that the NBA is particularly troubled by reports indicating that Pastor Gbeneol has remained in custody for an extended period without being charged, stressing that allegations, no matter how serious, remain unproven until tested in open court. He warned against allowing investigative delays, media narratives or executive actions to erode the presumption of innocence, which he described as a cornerstone of the criminal justice system.

He called on the Nigeria Police Force to act strictly in line with the law by either charging the pastor before a court of competent jurisdiction or releasing him immediately if investigations fail to establish sufficient grounds for prosecution. Osigwe cautioned that continued detention without judicial oversight undermines public confidence in law enforcement institutions.

The NBA also urged that investigations into the matter be conducted professionally and transparently, without unlawful detention or coercive tactics, adding that the same constitutional standards must apply to all individuals involved. He warned against the criminal justice system being weaponised or allegations of political or security nature being used to justify actions that erode fundamental rights.

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Fresh Leadership Change At LAWMA As Sanwo-Olu Names New MD, Redeploys Officers.

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Olajuwon Akinyemi as the acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The appointment comes amid growing concerns over the poor management of refuse across the state, with heaps of waste reportedly littering major roads, residential areas and drainage channels.

Akinyemi replaces Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who was asked to resign following the concerns over the worsening waste situation in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu also approved the appointment of Dr Tijani Olorunwa as the acting Director of Operations, while Kunle Adebiyi will retain his position as the Executive Director of Finance.

As part of efforts to reform the authority, the state government has also approved the redeployment of several senior LAWMA officials to other departments and agencies within the Lagos State public service.

Under the arrangement, officers on Salary Grade Levels 13 to 17 will be transferred to the mainstream Lagos State Civil Service, local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

However, officials in the Legal Department have been exempted from the exercise to avoid disruptions to ongoing court cases and concession agreements being handled by the agency.

The heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations have also been temporarily exempted from the transfers for an initial period of 90 days.

Akinyemi, who hails from Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, is an experienced administrator.

Before his latest appointment, President Bola Tinubu appointed him Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in 2025.

He had also served in the Lagos State public service, where he held the position of Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) for UBEC.

Akinyemi previously worked as Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Lagos State Office of Infrastructure.

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2027 Presidency: Donald Duke Declares Readiness To Step Down For Consensus Candidate.

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has declared his willingness to support any candidate who emerges as the consensus choice of the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Duke made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during the PRP strategic retreat, where he also condemned what he described as deliberate efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition parties ahead of the polls.

The former Cross River State governor accused the ruling party of using state institutions to frustrate opposition activities.

He lamented that opposition parties were allegedly being denied access to campaign venues while political violence was allowed to persist.

“Indeed, right now in this country, the only party able to campaign is the APC. They’ve locked out every person,” he said.

Duke warned that the growing political hostility could trigger a national crisis. He drew comparisons between the current political atmosphere and developments that preceded the 1966 crisis and the Nigerian Civil War.

He also expressed hope that the 375 judges recently inaugurated to handle election-related cases would uphold integrity and dispense justice without fear or favour.

Meanwhile, the PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, warned that Nigeria could face serious instability if the rising cases of political violence and intimidation against opposition parties were not urgently addressed.

Baba-Ahmed said attacks on opposition politicians and restrictions on their campaigns could undermine the electoral process, deny Nigerians the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and plunge the country into deeper political uncertainty.

“We are not scared for the PRP, we are scared for the country,” Baba-Ahmed said when asked about concerns over possible attacks on the party during its campaigns.

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Super Eagles Begin Tanzania Clash Preparations As 17 Players Arrive In Uyo.

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Nigeria have commenced preparations for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Tanzania, with 17 players reporting for the Super Eagles’ first training session in Uyo on Tuesday, November 10.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The team’s preparations encountered an early setback after flight scheduling issues at Victor Attah International Airport delayed the arrival of several players on Monday.

However, 10 players arrived on Tuesday morning. They included goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo; Fulham duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi; Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Benjamin Fredrick and Alhassan Yusuf.

Seven other players also joined the squad, bringing the total number of available players to 17. They are Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tolu Arokodare, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Samson Tijani, Tochukwu Nnadi, Francis Uzoho and Ademola Lookman.

The remaining seven invited players expected to join the camp are Bruno Onyemaechi, Abdullahi Bewene, Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Usor and first-time invitee Mubarak Suleiman.

Nigeria will welcome Tanzania to Uyo on Friday before travelling to Dar es Salaam for the return fixture four days later.

The Super Eagles have accumulated three points from their opening two matches in Group L. They started their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo but subsequently suffered a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau away from home.

Nigeria currently sit second in the group, behind Guinea-Bissau, and will need positive results in both encounters to improve their chances of qualifying for the tournament.

Tanzania, meanwhile, have already secured their place at the 2027 AFCON as one of the co-hosts, leaving just one additional qualification spot available in the group.

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