Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, has announced that participants in the upcoming nationwide protest in Lagos will receive free legal representation if they are arrested or face court charges.

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Effiong, an advocate for the protest scheduled from August 1-10, 2024, took to social media to call on legal professionals in Lagos to provide pro bono services for protesters.

In a tweet on July 25, 2024, Effiong said, “We are organizing a legal team in Lagos to support any protester who may be arrested or charged during the forthcoming peaceful demonstration.

Lawyers willing to offer pro bono services can contact me via DM with your WhatsApp numbers. Thank you. History will vindicate the just.”

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Omodolapo Yusuff, one of the lawyers providing free legal aid, emphasized the importance of public awareness to prevent the protest from being hijacked by individuals with ulterior motives.

Yusuff remarked, “Awareness is crucial to ensure that the protest remains focused on its goals. Protesters are advocating for the common good, not personal gain.”

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Yusuff also criticized security forces, suggesting that some officials might compromise their roles.

He expressed confidence that with sufficient public awareness, the protest would be protected from vandalism and looting.

Lawyer Benjamin Odeh, another member of the legal team, criticized government intolerance toward protests and the use of heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent.

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He compared the current situation to the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which faced similar challenges but persisted despite government attempts to disrupt them.

Meanwhile, state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory have urged protesters to reconsider, citing ongoing government efforts to improve the economy.

President Bola Tinubu held emergency meetings with APC governors, traditional rulers, and Islamic scholars to address the potential impact of the hunger protests and seek ways to prevent them from occurring nationwide.

A new controversy has erupted within the Labour Party (LP) following former Deputy National Chairman Callistus Okafor’s assertion of the National Chairmanship position.

At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Okafor declared his intention to assume leadership, citing a 2018 consent judgment by the Federal High Court, which he claims has been ignored.

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The ruling, delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had addressed a leadership dispute involving the late national chairman Abdulkadir Salam and a faction led by Salisu Mohammed, who also claimed the position of national caretaker chair.

Okafor contends that the judgment was not enforced, allowing Julius Abure to assume the role of national chairman based on a flawed foundation.

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He argued that, as a member of the 2014 National Working Committee, he and others are beneficiaries of this court ruling.

“The rightful leadership is now in place,” Okafor stated, emphasizing that his claim is based on legal entitlement rather than a contest with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

He proposed organizing an all-inclusive convention in line with the 2018 judgment and committed to reconciling aggrieved members to unify the party.

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Okafor framed his action as a critical step in resolving the prolonged legal struggle over the party’s leadership.

In response, Labour Party National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh dismissed Okafor’s claims.

Ifoh reiterated that Julius Abure remains the legitimate National Chairman, supported by several court judgments, and criticized those attempting to destabilize the party.

Human rights activist Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has officially informed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun about planned public meetings, rallies, and processions organized by the Take It Back Movement, its members, and other patriotic Nigerians and groups.

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In a letter dated July 26, 2024, Adegboruwa, acting as the solicitor for the Take It Back Movement, announced that the rallies will begin on August 1 and continue until August 10, 2024, or later, at Eagle Square in Abuja and other public spaces in the capital cities of the 36 states and at the headquarters of the 774 local government councils.

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Adegboruwa emphasized the police’s role in maintaining order during such events and requested the IGP to provide the details of any officers or police teams assigned to cover these rallies and processions.

This is to ensure coordinated plans and strategies for the events.

This request follows warnings from security agencies about the planned protest.

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On Thursday, the Department of State Services (DSS) issued a caution, stating that it had identified sponsors of the protest and warning that some elements might attempt to hijack the demonstrations.

The DSS acknowledged the citizens’ right to protest but expressed concerns that the protests could be exploited to discredit the federal and state governments and incite unrest.

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The agency’s spokesman, Peter Afunanya, stated, “the plotters desire to use the intended violent outcome to smear the federal and sub-national governments; make them unpopular and pit them against the masses. The long-term objective is to achieve a regime change, especially at the Centre.”

Additionally, on the same day, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike declared that the capital was not available for protests, and the police deployed 4,200 personnel in preparation for the demonstrations.

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen regarding the misuse of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds, stating that those found guilty will face jail time.

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This was disclosed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), during the 17th-anniversary annual lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) in Abuja yesterday.

Fagbemi emphasized that LGA chairmen do not have immunity and will be held accountable if they tamper with funds intended for local development.

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“We have a situation on our hands,” he said. “The conduct of elections is to be undertaken by the states. But the distinction is this: the governors have immunity, the local government council chairmen or councillors do not. They have to choose between misusing local government funds and risking jail or using the funds properly for development.”

He stressed that proper use of these funds for local projects like road construction and upgrades is crucial for reducing insecurity.

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“If they stay at the local government, we will be able to reduce the level of insecurity in Nigeria. Security agents perform optimally with information from the grassroots,” Fagbemi added.

The minister highlighted the federal government’s decision to seek local government autonomy through the Supreme Court, due to challenges at the state assembly level.

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He noted that local government administration has been hampered for over two decades by state governments not remitting funds meant for local governments.

Fagbemi also urged security agents to adhere to constitutional limits on detention, warning that detention without a court order would no longer be tolerated and those responsible would face sanctions.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, echoed the call for reduced government expenditure and blamed corruption for the country’s insecurity and high unemployment rates.

He warned that these issues are driving impending protests across Nigeria.

Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, stated that he would have abandoned his governorship ambition if Governor Godwin Obaseki had approached him reasonably.

Shaibu accused Obaseki of being a dictator and revealed that his resolve to pursue the governorship intensified after Obaseki threatened to destroy him if he did not step down.

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Shaibu claimed he had secured 381 delegates who would have voted for him in the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary, but he was prevented from entering the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin where the primary took place on February 22.

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Having now defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, Shaibu spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the APC National Working Committee in Abuja, expressing feelings of betrayal despite his sacrifices and loyalty to Obaseki.

“The truth is that the issues were all political. I declared to contest for the governor of Edo State. That is where the fight started,” Shaibu said.

He added that he tried to pacify Obaseki, but to no avail, leading him to decide to contest for the governorship.

Shaibu also refuted claims that he took 22 official vehicles after his impeachment, stating that the governor only bought one vehicle for his convoy in their seven and a half years in office.

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Reflecting on their relationship, Shaibu said, “If the governor had shown leadership, maybe I wouldn’t have contested because I am not a desperate person. My ambition is not inordinate. I have an ambition to fix the state. If somebody else can agree that we collectively fix it, I will follow. But the governor wanted to behave like a military dictator.”

Regarding accusations of corruption and misconduct, Shaibu maintained his innocence, explaining that he was not impeached for any wrongdoing.

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He emphasized his dedication to the state’s development and his commitment to democracy.

When asked about forgiving Obaseki, Shaibu hesitated but eventually said, “The only person that is perfect is the Almighty God. None of us created by God is perfect. One of the greatest commandments in the world is ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ If all of us can actually take to that commandment, there will be peace in the world.”

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Shaibu concluded by affirming his loyalty to Edo State and his efforts to support Obaseki’s success despite the challenges in their relationship.