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Just In: IPC Frowns As Police Interupts Media Workshop

Published

7 years ago

November 13, 2018

Editor

The International Press Centre, IPC Lagos has frowned at the visit made by two policemen led by ASP Aminu Tanko, allegedly from the State Investigation Bureau, Sokoto who came to Grand Ibro hotel, venue of a two-day workshop on Fact-checking Checking Elections for journalists in Sokoto, November 12 and 13, 2018.
According to reports, the policemen came to the venue of the workshop which is organized by Africa Check in partnership with the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy and Daily Trust Newspapers, at about 2.3pm on the second day of the workshop, demanding to see the organisers.
A distress message by participants at the workshop noted that it was strange and shocking that a media workshop on elections being organized for journalists who are tasked with performing key roles as stakeholders in the democratic process would be a subject of investigation by security forces.
According to sources, the policemen demanded for a copy of the workshop’s programme claiming it is because of the security in Sokoto, threatening that the workshop could be stopped if the issues of discuss at the media workshop were found to be of security concerns. David Ajikobi of AfricaCheck obliged them a copy while participants pointed out that their visit was unusual and smacked of intimidation.
The facilitators of the workshop include Ayesha Kajee, an international trainer from South Africa, Lanre Arogundade, Director of International Press Centre and David Ajikobi of AfricaCheck, in addition to about 15 broadcast, print and online journalists who were participating in the training.
The International Press Centre is miffed that this kind of unwarranted visit to a media workshop venue by security forces portend an intimidation of journalists. IPC is therefore calling on the security agency to desist from such acts, which is an aberration and can pose as a hindrance to journalists in the performance of desirable roles that the media should be performing as the 2019 elections approaches.

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Mike Adenuga, Emmanuel Macron Hold High-Powered Meeting in Paris

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Accomplished billionaire businessman and Commander of the French Légion d’Honneur, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, CdrLH, has held a private meeting with the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

The two powerful citizens of the world held the meeting on Wednesday at the historic Élysée Palace in Paris.

The high-level engagement underscores the longstanding relationship between Dr. Adenuga and the French Republic, as well as his continued relevance in global business and diplomatic circles.

A respected industrialist and philanthropist, Adenuga has been widely acknowledged for his contributions to economic development, telecommunications, energy, and humanitarian causes across Africa and beyond.

The meeting adds to Dr. Adenuga’s growing profile as a bridge between African enterprise and international leadership.

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Free at Last: Burkina Faso Releases 11 Nigerian Soldiers, Aircraft

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Burkina Faso has released Nigerian soldiers who were detained after their aircraft made a forced landing in the Sahelian country earlier this month, Nigerian officials said.

The release followed a diplomatic intervention by President Bola Tinubu, who dispatched a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to meet Burkina Faso’s Military Leader, Ibrahim Traoré, on Wednesday.

In a statement, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s spokesperson, said both sides resolved the matter amicably and secured the release of the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew.

The soldiers had been held for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act” carried out in defiance of international law.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, said the crew encountered a technical issue that required a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest available airfield. It said the landing complied with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.

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Corruption Allegations: NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed Meets Tinubu, Resigns

Published

21 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Eric

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, has resigned following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu amid corruption allegations.

Tinubu, on Wednesday, summoned Ahmed to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following allegations of economic sabotage and corruption.

Also caught in the web of resignation was the CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, according to a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy.

Tinubu was said to have nominated successors to the senate for approval.

“Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),” the statement reads.

“The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC.

“Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.”

Onanuga said the two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.