Crime
Gombe; Ban on Motorcycle”Has Increased Crime in the State”Barr. Hamza Dantani Esq
From Lateef Taiwo
Human rights lawyer, Barrister Hamza N Dantani has described the ban on night time motorcycle in Gombe as counter productive.
In an open letter to governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, the Executive Governor of Gombe State the human rights advocat
drew the attention of the state government to the ongoing restriction on motorcycle operations between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. across Gombe State.
Saying that
” the policy which was borne out of a genuine desire to curb criminality and safeguard lives and property. However, with the utmost respect, the continuation of this restriction is a cure far worse than the disease it seeks to address”
He noted that the ban, as initially introduced by the Gombe State Police Command, was not preceded by consultation with the state’s elected government. Your Excellency disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bello Yahaya, did not seek your input before its enforcement. Yet, Your Excellency chose not to interfere. This humility and restraint are noted, but I respectfully remind Your Excellency that the people of Gombe did not elect the Commissioner of Police; they elected you as their governor and chief security officer, with a constitutional mandate to weigh the burdens and aspirations of your people in all policy decisions”
“It is pertinent to respectfully draw Your Excellency’s attention to the position of the law on the matter. Section 14 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution establishes Nigeria as a democratic state where sovereignty resides with the people, and their security and welfare are the primary purposes of government. Section 16 outlines economic objectives, including promoting national prosperity, self-reliance, balanced development, and social justice. In the case of Bariga-Amange v. Adumen (2016) 13 NWLR (Pt. 1530) 349, the court of appeal held that “the security and welfare of the peoples shall be the primary purpose of government.”
” The point to be made then is that while the security of the people is significant, there must always be a balance, as their welfare is also paramount”
He further stated that “About seven weeks have passed since this measure was implemented. If nothing has changed regarding curbing criminality within this period, then it is reasonable to conclude that prolonging the ban will achieve nothing further. On the contrary, the unintended consequences have become more severe and far-reaching”
While appealing to the state government, the Abuja based constitutional lawyers stated that “neighbouring states with similar restrictions as a justification underscore the flaws in that reasoning respectfully, citing Borno and Yobe states where a similar motorcycle ban had proved counterproductive.
” It severely disrupted the economy and failed to address the security challenges it was meant to curb. In Yobe State, the governor reconsidered the initial ban and lifted it due to the enormous economic hardship it caused the people. These precedents should serve as cautionary tales rather than justifications”
“Furthermore, the notion that the restriction will help curb mobile phone theft is fundamentally flawed. Criminals can and do use other means of transportation, such as tricycles or private vehicles, to perpetrate such crimes. Blanket policies that punish law-abiding citizens alongside criminals cannot address the root causes of insecurity”
“Gombe State is on an upward trajectory, having been ranked among the top states in Nigeria for ease of doing business. This has encouraged entrepreneurs and skilled individuals from neighbouring states to invest and work in Gombe. Policies such as this one, however, risk eroding the progress made. If left unaddressed, the motorcycle restriction could undermine the state’s economic attractiveness and alienate the population whose cooperation is essential for security and development.”
‘Your Excellency, we must not lose sight of the broader economic and social picture. With inflation at alarming levels, and with poverty and unemployment on the rise in the country, the people of Gombe are already living under extreme pressure. Many of the motorcycle operators you see today are breadwinners. Some operate their motorcycles in shifts; one riding by day and another by night to sustain their families, pay school fees, and service hire-purchase arrangements. The current policy has rendered night operators jobless and has caused many to default on payments, leading to the loss of their only means of livelihood.”
“Moreover, this ban has disrupted sectors that are essential to daily lives. Hospital workers, food vendors, shopkeepers, and small-scale traders now struggle to get home after 6 p.m., often at significant personal risk or expense. Even religious activities have not been spared. Imams and mosque caretakers find themselves stranded or unable to fulfill their duties, and ironically, even the police officers tasked with enforcing this restriction are negatively affected.”
“we are not unmindful of the need for stringent security measures, but they must be intelligent, inclusive, and humane. A policy that inflicts more suffering than it prevents must be revisited. This is a democracy, and the people—the market woman, the night-time nurse, the okada rider, and the student walking home after evening prayers—bear the brunt of this decision. They are groaning under hardship and calling upon your compassionate leadership”
“I therefore respectfully appeal to Your Excellency to reconsider this policy and end it. Let reason prevail. Let the voices of the people be heard. Let Gombe continue its march towards prosperity, unhindered by measures that inadvertently punish the people they are meant to protect”
Business
Nestoil: Lagos CP dragged to court for contempt, risks imprisonment
This is certainly not a good time for the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Moshood Jimoh as he has been dragged to court for commiting contempt by defying a clear court order that he and his men must not go near the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD.
The fresh suit by Drawcok Estates LTD followed Monday’s deployment of over fifty armed police officers by Mr. Moshood Jimoh to seal off the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD despite an order by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia.
Also, despite a directive by the federal government that police escorts be withdrawn from VIPs, Mr. Moshood Jimoh illegally allocated several police officers to be guarding Mr. Sulu Gambari, the self-acclaimed Receiver Manager which was appointed by a former judge that was handling the case, Justice Isaac Dipeolu.
Recall that Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi vacated all the orders made by Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu who wrongly appointed the Receiver Manager.
Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the action of the Lagos Police Commissioner, Drawcok Estates LTD yesterday filed a case of contempt against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh Moshood (Contemnor) before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025, the applicant wants Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh to be found guilty of contempt of court and also be committed to prison unless he obeys the directives contained in Justice Ofili Ajumogobia’s Order of November 24, 2025.
Recall that Justice Ofili Ajumogobia had on November 24, 2025 ordered that the building in question belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD, adding that no police officer must be seen carrying out orders of the Lagos State Police Commissioner around the premises.
The Orders made by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia on November 24, 2025 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025 were that:
The applicant has a right to own and possess her properties as mentioned in the addresses above as guaranteed by the 34 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights..
That the sealing-off and occupation of the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above by the Respondents constitute an infringement on the right of the applicant to own property, as guaranteed by Sections 43 and 44 of the he Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
That the Respondents, whether by themselves , their agents, agencies and servants, acting for it through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to vacate the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above, and deliver possession over to the applicant forthwith.
That the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies, and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to provide security for the applicant to take back possession of her properties on the addresses mentioned above.
That the Respondents is restrain, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, from harassing the applicant and refusing her access to her properties on the addresses mentioned above.
Nigerian Concord Newspapers reporters that visited the business premises yesterday reported that pollice officers have been denying workers of several companies access to their offices located within the Nestoil building in Lagos on the order of Moshood Jimoh, despite a subsisting court order directing that they be allowed into the premises.
The affected workers had resumed duties following a court order delivered by Hon. Justice Ofili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja on November 24, which directed that they be granted access to their offices.
Crime
Police Confirm Abduction of 25 Female Students in Kebbi School Attack
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed that 25 female students were abducted and one person killed during an attack on Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson CSP Nafi’u Abubakar said the attack occurred around 4 a.m. on Monday when heavily armed bandits stormed the school, firing sporadically.
According to Abubakar, police tactical teams were deployed immediately after a distress call and engaged the attackers in a gun duel. By the time security operatives arrived, the bandits had already scaled the school fence and abducted 25 students from their hostel.
He confirmed that one person, identified as Hassan Makuku, was shot dead, while another victim, Ali Shehu, sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand.
Abubakar added that additional police units, soldiers, and vigilante groups have been deployed to track the bandits and rescue the abducted students. Security teams are currently combing nearby forests and possible escape routes.
He urged residents to remain calm, stay alert, and cooperate with security agencies as operations continue.
Crime
Justice Dipeolu, his Egregious Judicial Decision on Nestoil Case and fake allegation of $5m bribe for Justice Tsoho
Talking of judges that doexercise judicial impunity and rascality in Nigeria today, the name of Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos State will always make the list as a result of his abuse of judicial power.
Finding by this newspaper indicated that Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu is a man with no integrity and also with shocking and remarkably bad judicial decision, often considered a serious error or abuse of power.
Two years ago, Justice Dipeolu was accused of gross judicial impunity while handling the forfeiture of assets case of former CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and he was compelled to excuse himself from the case immediately there were media reports that he had been financially induced.
Apart from that, Dipeolu is still facing media back lashes over his October 25, 2025 Order that Lotus Bank should take over the assets both movable and unmovable of Unpacked Limited , a firm.ownes by Feyikemi Abiodu and guaranteed by Oluwafeni Badewole.
The public outcries over that are that there were many technical errors in the ruling.
Over the time, Justice Dipeolu has made several wrongful convictions. In most of his rulings especially in criminal cases, the judge has made judicial decisions that have led to innocent persons being convicted even though they would later get fair hearings at higher courts.
Judges are allowed to use their discretion in few cases but for Justice Deinde Dipeolu, it’s an abuse of discretion. Some of his discretions are grossly unfair and unreasonable.
Apart from undermining justice, Justice Isaac Dipeolu’s egregious decisions have eroded trust in the Nigeria legal system, and because he isn’t checked by the authorities, his judicial rascality has damaged the country’s judiciary’s reputation. Also, his reputation has been badly harned as a result of his recklessness.
To get remedies from the bad decisions of Justice Dipeolu, many victims have had to appeal his judicial decisions at higher courts where most of his decisions had been reviewed and faulted by higher judges.
The latest judicial rascality of Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu is the granting of ex parte orders in the Nestoil case where he wrongly appointed a receiver/manager over Neconde’s interest in OML 42.
And according to judicial analysts, the judge’s decision was the height of judicial impunity because the Order was one-sided as it was granted without hearing the story of the person or persons against whom the order is made.
Analysts who have roundly condemned the inactions of Justice Dipeolu over the Order stated that he erred as he only had the power to grant such Orders in cases of exceptional urgency where the subject matter of the suit will likely be destroyed or dissipated irretrievably if the order was not made immediately.
Recall that the suit was brought based on the alleged default by Nestoil in the payment of loans granted by a group of banks to the company. Whereas, Nestoil and its promoters had provided various assets as collateral to secure the repayment of the Nestoil loans.
However, the Nestoil lenders appointed First Trustees to hold the collateral
on their behalf. The Nestoil lenders also reserved the power, acting through First Trustees, to appoint a receiver/manager to take over Nestoil and the Nestoil loan collateral if Nestoil defaulted in the repayment of the Nestoil loans.
Perhaps Justice Isaac Dipeolu has forgotten that under the Law, the Nestoil lenders exercised this power by appointing Mr. Abubakar Sulu-Gambari SAN as receiver/manager pursuant to a deed of appointment dated August 21, 2025.
It’s important to inform the public that prior to the recent events, the Nestoil lenders requested that Neconde’s interest in OML 42 should be provided as additional collateral for the repayment of the Nestoil loans. But Neconde had used its interest in OML 42 as a collateral to secure the loans it obtained from another group of banks. Therefore, in law and common sense, the only way Neconde may provide its interest in OML 42 as additional collateral to the Nestoil lenders was if (a)
the Neconde lenders permitted Neconde to do so, and (b) the collateral taken by the Nestoil lenders in OML 42 will be inferior to the collateral already held by the Neconde lenders, i.e., the Nestoil lenders will exercise their right only AFTER the Neconde lenders have exercised their right over the collateral in the event of a default. Neconde and the Nestoil lenders signed an agreement on this
basis. In this instance, this would have created a “second ranking charge” for the Nestoil lenders.
It’s also important to state that the Neconde lenders refused to permit Neconde to create a second ranking charge in favour of the Nestoil lenders. So, the Nestoil lenders did not obtain a second ranking charge over Neconde’s
interest in OML 42 or any of Neconde’s assets.
These facts are in the documents First Trustees presented to Hon. Justice Dideolu and on the basis of which he made the ex parte orders but, he made the following order against Neconde as order no. 5: “That an order is hereby made granting leave to the Receiver/Manager to take over the 2nd
Defendant’s [Neconde] office situate at 41/42 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos; any other asset of the 2nd Defendant wherever it may be found within the jurisdiction of this Court; and/or the 2nd Defendant’s interest in OML 42 JV by virtue of the Deed of Appointment dated 21st of August
2025, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”.
Meanwhile, the “Receiver/Manager” is the receiver/manager appointed by the Nestiol
lenders, who have no collateral or other legal right over Neconde or Neconde’s interest in OML 42, and Justice Dipeolu therefore wrongly wiped out the collateral held by the Neconde lenders by placing Neconde under receivership in favour of the Nestoil lenders who do not have any collateral or charge over Neconde or its assets.
Legal analysta said that Justice Dipeolu, an experienced judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria was induced by extra judicial considerations for him to exercise that egregious judicial impunity.
Expectedly, four of the Neconde lenders have already filed an application to be joined in the matter with a view to setting aside the orders made against Neconde because the order has no basis in fact and in law.
However, legal analysts have hailed the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Tsoho over his decision to direct Justice Dipeolu to withdraw from the suit based on the petition presented by the Nestoil Group to the National Judicial Council.
According to them, what Justice Tsoho did is the standard practice once a petition against a judicial officer has been presented to the NJC. “In fact, upon becoming aware of the petition, Justice Dipeolu ought to have recused himself from the matter with immediate effect without the necessity of the intervention of the Hon. Chief Judge” analysts said.
Analysts also condemned an allegation that Justice Tsoho was given a bribe of $5m to give his directive that Justice Dipeolu should excuse himself from the Nestoil case..
They wrote that it’s unfortunate that
Justice Dipeolu’s handlers have chosen to mount a campaign of calumny against Hon. Justice Tsoho just because he gave a directive that would redeem the integrity of the Nigeria judicial system.
The wrote: “A judge like Justice Dipeolu, who has consistently recklessly abused his judicial oath of office by making decisions that are induced by extra-judicial considerations ought to be flushed out of the. judiciary. His “fans” should help him to help himself by advising him to resign his office as a judge”
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