News

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor faults Wike over squabble with soldier

Published

5 months ago

November 13, 2025

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s face-off with the young naval officer, Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, has continued to generate different opinions.

A former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Thursday, faulted Wike over his verbal exchange with the Naval Officer.

Irabor spoke at the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja.

He said the minister committed an offence against the state, adding that he had no right to make such remarks.

He said, “Just a few days ago, we saw an incident between the Honorable Minister of the FCT and a military officer. And there have been a number of representations that I have read in the media, which I thought that some of us got it right, others did not.

“They missed the point. And I am including the representation of a SAN, which I think missed the point. Now, what is it? The uniform is not about who is wearing it.

“The uniform represents the authority of the states. Whether it is a small boy or not, it is the authority of the states. It is even worse when it is a commissioned officer who has a presidential commission.

“And so, when you make such disparaging comments, you have desecrated the oath. What you have told the Commander-in-Chief and the authority that invested that position in him is that they are fools.

“So, it is wrong. And I think that for the media… In any case, the law has two ends. For those, we also studied law, hands on their head.

“But again, in military law, we also taught that for you to be able to establish a crime, there are two elements. Actus reus and mens rea. Actus reus, meaning was this thing done?

“Is there something that was done? And then the mens rea, what is the intention behind it? So, when a SAN says that the minister has authority over land and it is not the duty of the soldier, that is not the issue.

“Now, if you have any reason to believe that what the young man is doing is a channel, that is the law. So, you are desecrating the oath; it has not left the realm of what the officer was doing. It is an offense against the state.”

He argued that citizens have lost the educational traction to know how to treat military officers in uniform. He tasked the media to highlight the values of good citizenship and patriotism.

“So, this is what you, the media, must try to highlight. I know that over the years, we have lost our educational traction. See, these are things that primary school pupils, secondary school pupils ought to know.

“That people like us don’t do anymore. The whole essence of contracts, alright? The contracts that you have with the states. That every individual has ceded his rights to the states because of things like this.

“So that we will not, at every front line, take laws into our hands. It is not a jungle. So, if the state has designated certain establishments and they get them in uniform, only to be able to easily recognize them,” he said.

Moreso, he pointed out that even he, as a military officer, lacked the powers to lay his hands on any officer because it is against the law.

“But assuming I was wearing a uniform today, it’s a different matter entirely. The officer asks a question. If you see him tomorrow wearing a uniform, you will not see him.

“So, what distinguishes the police, the military, and other agencies is the uniform. And so, respect and honour the uniform. And that’s what we should tell our children.

“That every Nigerian, when you see them, are they doing what is right? They may not be doing what is right. But then, it is not your duty to not lay your hands on them. Otherwise, we will be in a jumble.

“That’s exactly what’s happening. That counter-terrorism has become a ding-dong thing. If you go to a studio meeting, nobody knows what is right and what is wrong.

“What was done with good intention is misinterpreted. Because of things like that. And that is why I thought that since we are talking about media, terrorism, and national security, we should address the complexities.

“This is a part of the complexities. That would give a wrong impression to those. Tomorrow, people will now think that when you see a military man, you slap him.

“It is a jumble. Why would you do that to a policeman? I, as a general, can’t slap my soldier. I can’t touch him.

“I can’t use my hand on him. If I do that, either I apologize to him, or I will be disciplined. The same thing across the world,” he added.

He argued that even in the United States, citizens do not go around fighting officers because they know the implications.

“When police brutalize a citizen in the U.S., do you see people going around trying to fight them?.

“Because they respect the uniform. But is he misusing the uniform? Yes. Will he be dealt with? Yes.

“So let us get a distinction. I thought it would be a good opportunity to do so. As I conclude, what I need us to take away is that we are reminded yesterday that as editors of the media organizations, because we are dealing with national security issues, you are the last man standing.”

General Irabor also threw his weight behind the military Safe Corridor programme in the war against insecurity in the country.

The retired General said there is nothing wrong with the programme.

Irabor, who was responding to a question on the programme, said that there was no truth in the claims that repentant armed men were integrated into the country’s armed forces.

According to him, “On Operation Safe Corridor, I think, again, the development of Operation Safe Corridor has been misinterpreted completely.

“There is nothing wrong. I support Operation Safe Corridor. I supported it yesterday, I will support it today, I will support it tomorrow.”

He explained that the programme is like a prison for the offenders. He also added that most of the recruits of Boko Haram or other groups don’t even know what the ideology of the group is.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 328

News

Photos: Jonathan Visits Tinubu At Presidential Villa

Published

4 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday met former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.

It was reports that this was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

A reason for the meeting has not been disclosed as at the time of filing this report.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Meanwhile, Jonathan has responded to erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his submission on his competency during his time in office.

It was reports that Atiku, during a live television interview, claimed that Jonathan made many mistakes while he was President because he was inexperienced.

“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” he said.

Reacting to Atiku’s statement during the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan said no one who becomes a governor or president would say he did not make mistakes.

He defended his administration, adding that he did his best while in office.

Jonathan said: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’

“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.

“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 15

News

Alleged coup plot: DSS moves detained Islamic cleric, Zaria to court for trial

Published

4 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Sheik Abdukadir Sani Zaria, the Islamic scholar arrested by Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu has been moved to the Federal High Court in Abuja for prosecution.

He was brought to court with a retinue of security escorts and his personal associates.

Sani who has been in the detention facility of the DIA and later the Department of the State Service, DSS, since December 2025, was named among the six coup plotters on the charge sheet filed by the Federal Government and billed for arraignment in court today, Wednesday.

He is to be put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, along with five others, including military officers accused of plotting to wage war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Islamic cleric was named in counts 1, 2, 3,4, 6 and 7 of conspiring with others to commit felony while he was separately charged on count 9 of the 13-count charge.

Among the accusations against him were that he conspired to bring down a legitimate government, concealed information on the coup plot and rendered support to the coup plotters.

In count 9, the cleric was accused of retaining a sum of N2 million in his account with number 0005620270 domiciled at Jaiz Bank and transferred into the account by a Company, “A & A Express Link Concept” whose ownership was traced to one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, said to be the arrow head of the coup plot.

His offense of terrorism financing was said to be contrary to section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under section 18 (3) of the same Act.

Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday ordered immediate unconditional release of the Islamic scholar from the custody of the
DIA and later the DSS.

The judge had imposed a fine of N2 million each on DIA and DSS to be paid to the cleric for breaching sections 35 and 36 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution in the ways and manners the 75 year old man was hauled into detention for more than four months without trial.

In a judgment on the fundamental rights suit instituted against DIA and others by the detained Islamic cleric,

Justice Lifu ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Jaiz Bank to pay N1 million each as compensation to him for freezing his bank account without order of any law court.

Besides, the Federal High Court directed the DIA and DSS to tender a public apology to the detained islamic scholar for the breach of his fundamental rights.

Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria was hauled into detention without order of court for allegedly associating with one of coup plotters against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Justice Lifu had lambasted the DIA for its refusal to subordinate itself to civil rule and rule of law by refusing to produce the detained man in court when ordered to do so.

He said that as agency established by law, the DIA should not place itself above the laws of the land in the discharge of its statutory functions.

The judge held that the provisions of Section 36(1)(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution avail him and “for all citizens.”

He noted that Nigeria, being a signatory to different international conventions on human rights, cannot afford to be held behind on such issues.

The judge noted that since December 11, 2025, the applicant was kept in “safe custody” without access to family and associates after an investigation was opened about him, on grounds described as security reasons.

Justice Lifu ordered the AGF to ensure immediate compliance with the judgment of the court.

The cleric had been hauled into the DIA custody since December last year following the discovery of N2 million in his Jaiz Bank account paid by one of the indicted coup plotters.

Although he agreed to forfeit the amount to the Federal Government to regain his freedom, the security agency held him to determine the level of his complicity in the alleged coup plot.

The Islamic cleric claimed innocence of the alleged crimes adding that the person who transferred the money into his account was just one of his disciples.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 37

News

IGP Disu meets NAPTIP DG, pledges stronger action against human trafficking

Published

4 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has pledged stronger collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, in efforts to tackle human trafficking and organised crime.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on April 22, 2026 on the official page of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the statement, the commitment was made when the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, paid a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on April 21.

Discussions during the meeting focused on improving cooperation between both agencies, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building.

The NAPTIP boss sought increased technical support and operational collaboration to strengthen the agency’s ability to address human trafficking and related crimes.

In his response, Disu assured that the police would support NAPTIP through intelligence-led strategies and coordinated operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks.

“The Force will deploy its operational and intelligence capabilities to support NAPTIP’s mandate,” the statement said.

Disu noted that specialised units, including the Intelligence Response Team and the police cybercrime unit, would provide technical assistance, while training programmes would also be expanded for NAPTIP personnel.

The two agencies agreed to sustain regular engagements to monitor progress and strengthen efforts against trafficking and organised crime across the country.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 31