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Constituency Projects: CSO Urges EFCC, ICPC To Beam Searchlight On Implementation

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Stakeholders @ Stallion Times Media Organised Roundtable Discussion on Constituency Projects In Lokoja.

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Participants at a Civil Society and Media Roundtable Discussion Constituency Projects have called on the nation’s Anti-Corruption Agencies to scale up their searchlight on implementation of Constituency Projects in Kogi State.

The stakeholders made the call in a Communique issued at the end of the round table discussion organized by Stallion Times Media Services on Saturday in Lokoja.

The Communique was signed by Hamza Aliyu, Chairman, Kogi Accountability Platform; Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina,
Co-Chairman, Kogi State OGP Non-State Actors and Isiyaku Ahmed, Project Coordinator,
G-DRIP (Stallion Times).

According to the Communique, the programme is aimed at encouraging accurate, active citizens’ participation in governance and push for quality service delivery.

It forms part of activities rounding off the three-year Participatory Governance and Media Literacy project tagged: “Get Involved, Dialogue and Improve (G-DRIP)” being undertaken in Kano and Kogi states by Stallion Times Media Services.

The project is being executed in collaboration with the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism under the Collaborative Media Project with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

The participants observed that many elected representatives had no functional constituency offices for engagement with their constituents just as Constituents are not usually aware or carried along in the conceptualization and planning of constituency projects.

They also observed that citizens’ dissatisfaction with their elected representatives is a direct consequence of the lack of transparency in the activities of political leaders especially in their expenditure of public funds.

To address the myriad of challenges arising from issues around constituency projects, the the stakeholders called on every elected representative to have a functional Constituency office with the requisite staff and equipment.

They also urged Anti-Corruption Agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam their searchlights on the implementation of Constituency Projects in Kogi State.

They also urged the Legislature to put in place, mechanisms for ensuring that the concept of Constituency Project is made Transparent and accountable to the people (through Oversight and Public Accounts investigations).

“Citizens, Civil Society and Media must pay attention by being involved in conceptualization, monitoring, tracking and implementation of Constituency Projects at State and Federal Levels.

“Citizens must take interest in the areas of Public Sector Budgeting, Budget Tracking and Legislative Advocacy including Policy Engagement.

“Elected representatives must make quarterly Town hall meetings a priority for engagement with their constituents”, the Communique read.

The Round Table Discussion on was attended by CSOs, Leaders of Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Women groups, Persons with Disabilities, members of Action Plan Steering Committee of Kogi State Open Government Partnership (OGP), State and Non-State Actors, and the Media. (Ends)

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Fisayo Soyombo Accuses Nigerian Army of Complicity in Oil Bunkering Leak After Detention

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Fisayo Soyombo

Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has accused the Nigerian Army of leaking sensitive information to illegal oil bunkering networks following his undercover investigation into the illicit trade.
Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, made the allegations during an interview on Arise TV after his release from a three-day detention by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The journalist revealed that his arrest occurred while investigating the security networks protecting illegal bunkers, a complex operation involving multiple security formations.
He accused the Army of compromising his safety by prematurely linking him to the investigation, which alerted the oil bunkers.
Soyombo disclosed that the oil bunkers repeated details of the sensitive information he had shared with the Army.
“Everything I told the Army was confirmed by the bunkers,” he said. “They even echoed my statements word-for-word before I was released. How could they have known if the Army hadn’t leaked it?”

Soyombo explained that he voluntarily approached the soldiers during the raid, knowing he had nothing to hide, while others fled into the bush.
“I wasn’t arrested in the traditional sense. I stayed behind because I knew I wasn’t guilty of anything,” he said.

During his detention, he was well-treated but remained concerned about the Army’s intentions.
“They told me they could hold me for two months if necessary, but the media attention forced my release,” Soyombo revealed.
Soyombo criticized the Nigerian Army for failing to protect whistleblowers and journalists. He emphasized that illegal oil bunkering thrives due to the complicity of security agencies.
“This incident proves how deeply compromised the system is. Illegal bunkering won’t stop because of collaborators within security agencies,” he asserted.

Despite the ordeal, Soyombo said he remains committed to investigative journalism but hinted at stepping back after a few more undercover investigations.
“I may have one, two, or three more undercover stories left before I stop. I would rather stop than compromise my integrity,” he concluded.
Soyombo urged the Nigerian Army to explain why the information he provided was leaked, endangering his life and the integrity of the investigation. He called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s security structures to effectively combat illegal oil bunkering and protect investigative journalists.

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PWAN Sensitizes Northwest Journalists on Police Act 2020, Media’s Role in Accountability

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By Ahmed Rufa’i Dutse

Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) has urged the media to enhance public awareness of the Police Act 2020, particularly its human rights provisions on arrest and searches.
This appeal was made during a workshop for 70 journalists from the Northwest region on the Act’s impact on police-citizen relations and media reporting in Nigeria.

Supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the event was held at R&K Guest Palace, Nasarawa, Kano State.

PWAN Program Manager, Hajiya Aisha Yusuf, explained that the initiative aims to deepen understanding of the Police Act across several states, fostering informed community engagement.
“This project ensures the public and media understand their rights and the expected conduct of police officers, promoting trust and accountability,” she said.

The workshop gathered media professionals from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara.
Discussions highlighted media responsibilities in ensuring transparency and accountability in law enforcement, with a focus on the Act’s provisions on arrest, profiling, and stop-and-search procedures.

Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Community Policing, Hajiya Maryam Umar, stressed the importance of harmonious police-community relations for peace and security.
Presenting his paper on the Police Act 2020 and Regulations one of the resource persons, Barrier Sani Ammani highlighted some of the objectives of 2020 police Act, to include responsiveness, equity, justice and fairness.

He emphasised the need to respect the dignity of persons, safeguarding the fundamental rights of Nigerians, as well as cooperation and partnership between the police and communities as contained in the Act.

According to him, one of the police duties is to conduct investigation, make arrest with or without arrest warrant as well as to write statement among others.

He stressed that, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian police to protect lives and property of every person residing in Nigeria.

On her part, Hajiya Maryam Rabi’u, who spoke on the role of the media in promoting awareness of the Nigeria Police Act, indicated that the media can conduct investigative reporting and public awareness to inform citizens about their rights.

She emphasized the need for journalist to facilitate dialogue, monitor implementation of the Act and report success stories of police officers who abide by the new Act and other related issues.
The workshop is a significant step in aligning media reporting with the Police Act 2020 to promote human rights and accountability in Nigeria’s Northwestern region

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Alhassan Yahaya Elected as National President of NUJ

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Alaskan Yahaya

Comrade Alhassan Yahaya has emerged as the new National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). Yahaya secured 436 votes in a keenly contested election, defeating Comrade Bamidele Atunbi, the former National Treasurer, who received 97 votes, and Comrade Garba Mohammed, who garnered 39 votes.

The election was held at the 8th Triennial Delegates Conference of the NUJ, which took place in Owerri, Imo State, and saw the participation of around 600 delegates from various State Councils across the country.

Before his election as National President, Yahaya was serving as the Deputy National President of the union. He hails from Gombe State.

In a historic moment for the union, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde was elected unopposed as the Deputy National President, becoming the first female to hold the position. Oyetunde, the General Manager of Radio Nigeria Bronze FM in Edo State, is also a former member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the NUJ.

Other officers who were elected unopposed include Comrade Victor Ndukwe, the new National Treasurer and former Chairman of the Abia State Council, and Comrade Ronke Samo, who was re-elected as the Vice President of the B-Zone (Southwest).

The election process was conducted with tight security, and Comrade Mike Ikeogwu chaired the Electoral Committee. The event was presided over by Joe Ajaero, a representative of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

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