By George Mgbeleke

Worried by incessant spats of banditry attacks, kidnapping and killings in parts of the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will today (Wednesday 17th December) embark on nationwide protest rally against insecurity which today, has put Nigeria in a terrible state.

This is as the congress has raised alarm over plot by the Police to attack the protesters and cause mayhem, warning that any attack on the protest, would be a declation of war on Nigeria.

The Congress in a statement signed by its Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, said it had taken the decision to demand urgent and sustained action by the state to decisively address the festering insecurity situation in Nigeria.

It said the protest which will start at 7:30 a.m on Wednesday, will involve the peaceful procession of workers and civil society allies within designated routes.

Meanwhile, the congress in another statement on Tuesday, titled: “An Attack on Any Protester is an Act of Terrorism”, signed by the Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, said it received credible and disturbing intelligence from the networks within the communities that there is a clandestine move by some unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings, to infiltrate and violently disrupt the peaceful National Day of Protest and mourning organised by workers for Wednesday.

It said: “These protests, as every comrade or citizen knows, are a necessary and legitimate response to the escalating reign of terror unleashed upon our nation. The industrial-scale losses of lives, kidnappings, abductions, and killings in the face of a staggering government’s indifference or weakness clearly speak to the issue.

“Our action tomorrow is therefore not just a mere procession, it is a collective act of grief, a roar of despair from the oppressed, and a democratic demand for the fundamental right to life and security. We have lost count of the numbers of our members; teachers, farmers, miners and other artisans that have died to this overwhelming insecurity.

“Let this be understood by those who occupy the corridors of power and the purveyors of violence that the Congress is now officially aware of their plot to use armed thugs to attack peaceful protesters, cause mayhem, and create a pretext for violent repression.

“We name this plot for what it is, a further enabled terrorism against Nigerian citizens.

“We issue a stern and final warning to the purveyors of this act: ‘Desist Immediately. Call off your hoodlums as any attack on peacefully protesting workers will be considered a direct declaration of war on the entire Nigerian working class and its allies’.

“The Police having been informed of our protests and its dynamics must act to protect the democratic rights of citizens to freely assemble and express themselves. The rights of citizens must be respected and guaranteed.

“To all the working people of Nigeria, the unemployed, the students, the traders, and all victims of insecurity, we alert you to this insidious plot. Do not be cowed. Do not be provoked. Our protest must remain peaceful, disciplined, and massive. Solidarity is our shield.

“Here is our iron-clad resolution as passed by the National Executive Council: Should a single worker, comrade, or citizen be harmed by these thugs or through escalated repression tomorrow, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not hesitate to declare an immediate, comprehensive, and indefinite nationwide strike.

“All wheels of production, all services, and every sector of the national economy will be shut down completely and indefinitely. When the ruling class moves to crush a peaceful protest against their failure, they unwittingly reveal their truly undemocratic tendencies.

“The message must be clear and without equivocation; any attack on our protest will be an attack on the very engine of Nigeria. The consequence will be an escalation and a total shutdown”.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The International Federation of Women Lawyers,(FIDA), in Niger State has vowed to launch an offensive onslaught against all sort of digital violence against girl child and women in the state.

FIDA also said it will go all out in the protection of any sorts of Cyber bullying and social media attack on girl child and women in Niger State the association will not compromise in taking appropriate legal action against any assault on women in Niger State.

Speaking at the occasion of 2025 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence GBV with the theme, “ Unite to End Digital Violence Against all women and Girls”which took place in Maikunkele, the headquarters of Bosso Local government area of Niger State the Chairperson of FIDA in Niger State, Barrister Bolanle Jibogun said the association will continue to sensitize women girls on the need to raise their voice against such trend.

According to the FIDA Chairman, the 16 days Activism Humaright against GBV which is aimed at enlightening and sensitizing women and girl child on the danger of Cyber bullying and all sorts of social media attacks adding that the association will continue to stand against such ugly trends.

She assured that FIDA as a non governmental organization will provide free legal services to the girl child who is being sexually molested or abused and women that are facing domestic violence in their matrimonial home noting that such attacks would not be condoned by FIDA in Niger State.

The FIDA Chairman told the gathering who are mostly women to continue to raise their voice against any acts of molestation and abuse on their girl child for appropriate legal action to be taken against such offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

While stressing the importance of reporting any act of molestation and other attack against girl child and the vulnerable in their neighborhood, Barrister Bolanle Jibogun told the participants that by raising their voice,the association will ensure that justice will be meted out to the offenders

Speaking earlier,the District head of Maikunkele, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar Dada applauded FIDA for hosting the 2025 16 Day of Activism in his domain describing the occasion as enlightening.

He said he will continue to partner with FIDA in the area of creating an awareness and enlightenment to the neighboring communities in his domain to know the existence of the association in the state.

By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

The Chairman of Dangote Group, Dr Aliko Dangote has formally submitted his petition against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) accusing him of corruption and financial impropriety.

In the petition submitted on December 16, through his lawyer, Dr Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), Dangote demanded arrest, investigation and prosecution of Ahmed for allegedly living above his means as a public servant.

In the petition received by the office of the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), the Dangote Group Chairman specifically accused the NMDPRA boss of spending without evidence of lawful means of income amounting to over 7million USD for the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland for a period of six years upfront.

Dangote in the petition named the four children and their schools in Switzerland including the amount paid for each of them to establish his allegations and verification by the anti-graft Agency.

He alleged that Farouk Ahmed was using the instrumentality of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for self gains and pursuit of private interest to the detriment of the Nigerian people which orchestrated uproar and protest by different groups recently.

The Oil magnate claimed that Farouk Ahmed throughout his lifetime as an adult worked in the public sector in Nigeria and that the totality of his earnings over the years was nothing close to 7 million USD, allegedly diverted from the public coffers to pay for the education of his teenage children abroad.

“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of Code of Conduct for public officers, Corrupt enrichment, embezzlement are gross Act of corrupt practices for which your Commission (ICPC) is statutorily empowered under section 19, of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute.

“Upon a successful prosecution of such a person, under section 19, of the ICPC Act, the person is liable to imprisonment for five years without an option of fine,” Dangote said.

“We make bold to state that the ICPC is strategically positioned along the sister agencies to, prosecute financial crimes and other corruption related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the Courts do not hesitate to punish offenders.

“In view of the above, we call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complain of abuse of office and corruption against Engr Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly, prosecute him if found wanting.

“We have no reservation that being a matter that is in the public domain, the Commission will not close its eyes to it but act decisively to ensure that justice is done and the good image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is protected”.

Dangote vowed to be on ground to proffer evidence in proof of his allegations of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office, and impunity against Engr Farouk Ahmed.