Politics
How Senators Shot Down Bill For Private Investigators In Nigeria
A bill seeking to regulate and provide legal backing for private investigators in the country, on Wednesday, failed to pass a second reading during plenary at the Senate.
The bill titled ‘A Bill For An Act To Prescribe Standard And Conditions Of Licence For Operation And Practice Of Private Investigators In The Country’ was sponsored by Osita Ngwu (PDP-Enugu).
The lawmakers expressed fear that the bill, if passed, would empower private individuals to pry into the private lives of perceived opponents.
Leading the debate on the bill earlier, Senator Ngwu said private investigators could be used in various capacities.
He said that while some investigators specialised in tracing, others specialised in technical surveillance countermeasures. He said this involved locating and dealing with unwanted forms of electronic surveillance, like a bugged boardroom for industrial espionage purposes.
He listed the bill’s objectives as fraud prevention, detection, assessment, and resolution, as well as corporate fraud and risk management services.
According to him, others include insurance fraud and claims investigation, aviation accident and loss investigation, marine loss investigation, occupational health and safety incident investigation, witness location and bail bond defaulters.
Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra), who supported the bill, said it was a well-thought-out bill to fill the gaps left by the EFCC, ICPC, and other security agencies.
“When due diligence is applied, a lot of high-profile crimes will no longer be swept under the carpet,” he said.
However, Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo) vehemently opposed the bill, saying, “It will be wrong to create an open-ended body” that will have the power to pry into people’s privacy.
He added, ”It could be a willing tool in the hands of political enemies.”
Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP-Adamawa) said the bill, if passed, would be a duplication of efforts and functions of security agencies in the country.
Titus Zam (APC-Benue) said, “I rise to express my strong reservation as the country has enough investigators. Our country is divided on ethnic, religious and political lines, and your enemies can use your opponents against you.”
Salihu Mustapha (APC-Kwara), opposing the bill, said the developed countries like the U.S. and UK, where private investigators are operating, are currently experiencing a debate on the use of private investigators who pry into private lives.
He said certain conditions like a national forensic institute needed to be in place” to streamline evidence being of a private investigator.
After the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio sought the sponsor’s opinion on whether to put the bill to the vote or withdraw it by himself for further legislative consultations and action.
Mr Ngwu opted to withdraw the bill.
Politics
Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
Politics
Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Politics
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
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