Nigeria Signs Agreement with AU to Provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for Peace Operations

The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed an agreement with the African Union (AU) to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for peace support operations, humanitarian actions, natural disaster response, and personnel movement across the continent.

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, signed the agreement on behalf of the country, while Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed for the African Union.

Key Highlights of the Agreement

1. The agreement mandates the Nigerian Navy to provide a vessel for AU peace operations on a cost-recovery basis.

2. The signing was witnessed by top Nigerian officials, including:

A. Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi
B. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar
C. Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla
D. Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed

Nigeria’s Commitment to Regional Security

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the agreement and expressed satisfaction with the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for adopting key security resolutions.

Among these decisions was the upgrade of the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre—a move aimed at strengthening counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.

Additionally, Tinubu commended the renewal of the Multinational Joint Taskforce’s mandate, which plays a crucial role in tackling terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad region.

This agreement further reinforces Nigeria’s strategic role in regional peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and humanitarian operations across Africa.

The Federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has directed the Nigeria Police Force to cease the public parading of criminal suspects.

A parade is a public display of individuals suspected of committing crimes, often conducted by law enforcement agencies.

Senior police officers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos State confirmed the development, stating that they had received official directives to comply.

One senior officer told Punch, “The AGF issued the directive earlier this month, and we have been informed accordingly. You may have already noticed some level of compliance.”

Another high-ranking officer in Abuja added, “Yes, we have been asked to stop parading suspects.”

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that an official statement on the matter would be released in due time.

“The police will react officially when appropriate. We will issue a statement soon,” he said.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), welcomed the decision, noting that suspect parades violate fundamental human rights.

His words, “Parading suspects is illegal as it contravenes the presumption of innocence guaranteed by Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

Falana also pointed out the discriminatory nature of the practice, stating that while low-income individuals accused of minor theft are paraded, high-profile suspects involved in massive corruption scandals are never subjected to such treatment.

“There are at least five court rulings, including from the ECOWAS Court and Federal High Courts, declaring the parade of suspects illegal,” he added.

Senior lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) also condemned the practice, highlighting the lasting damage done to individuals who may later be found innocent.

“The reputational harm from these parades is irreversible. Many suspects are later acquitted, but the public never forgets the initial humiliation,” he said.

Ozekhome called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure nationwide compliance with the directive.

“The police should build solid cases and take suspects to court rather than subjecting them to media trials,” he added.

The Presiding Judge, Awka Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice John Targema has made absolute the garnishee order nisi granted on 13th June 2024 in respect of the judgment sum to be paid by the Polaris Bank to the judgment creditor- Engr Mozie on conditions.

The Court ordered the garnishee- Polaris Bank to immediately pay to the Chief Registrar of the Court the judgment sum of Four Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty Naira, Eight Kobo only (N4,756.520.08) plus interest in favour of the Engr Mozie.

Justice Targema ordered the Chief Registrar to deposit the said sum in an interest-yielding account in a reputable commercial bank in favour of the successful party pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal decision over the matter filed against the judgment debtor- Ibeto Petrochemical Industries.

From facts, the Court on 14 July 2023 had delivered judgment in favor of the judgment creditor. In the said judgment, the Court declared the termination of Engr Mozie’s employment as wrongful and not in accordance with the terms of Engr Mozie’s employment.

The Court also ordered Ibeto Petrochemical Industries to pay the judgment creditor- Engr Mozie the sum of N4,756,520.08 (Four Million Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty Naira Eight Kobo only) as judgment sum. The judgment Creditor- Engr Mozie has not been paid, hence the instant garnishee proceeding.

In defence, the judgment debtor- Ibeto Petrochemical Industries filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection urging the Court to dismiss the application on the grounds that it had filed for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal and given the pendency of a valid application for stay of execution, the garnishee application is an abuse of Court Process because of its attempt to render nugatory, scuttle or sidetrack a valid judicial process, and the Court lacks the jurisdiction to do so.

In a well-considered judgment, the Presiding Judge, Justice John Targema held that the filing of an appeal does not act as a stay, and by virtue of the National Industrial Court Act, there is nothing stopping the Court from granting order nisi, and making absolute on conditions that allows the successful party at the Court of Appeal to access the judgment sum after the appeal.

The Court dismissed the notice of preliminary objection filed by the Ibeto Petrochemical Industries for lacking merit.

Justice Targema found the application of the judgment creditor- Engr Mozie for the order nisi of 13th June 2024 to be made absolute meritorious.

A team of police officers attached to the Area F of the Lagos State Police Command have been detained for allegedly extorting a Chinese expatriate along the Sheraton-Opebi link Road area of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred when the officers numbering three were conducting a stop and search at the location on Wednesday.

The police officers were said to have flagged down the foreigner and requested his documents, including a green card.

Although the expatriate presented the documents through his phone gallery, the officers insisted on seeing the original copies.

A rights activist, Lameed Adekunle, who was privy to the development told our correspondent on Sunday that after a series of discussions and pleas from the expatriate, the officers forced him to pay N100,000 into a Point Of Sale account.

He said, “The expatriate was on his way for an urgent meeting when the police officers stopped him and demanded his documents including his green card which was shown to the officers through a phone gallery but the officers insisted on seeing the original. Because he was unable to provide it, the officers requested N100,000 and since they did not want to get late to the meeting, they had to make the payment into the account provided to them.”

Speaking on how it became public knowledge, Adewale Ojo of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights said the expatriate, who works with a popular construction company, narrated his experience to his Nigerian co-workers who later escalated the matter.

He said, “The man just moved to Nigeria and he felt so disappointed in the way he was treated. He had to tell some of his workers who later informed us. We took it up, informed the police authorities and the officers were identified. This also led to their arrest and detention.”

He further stated that the policemen were summoned to the provost’s office in the Ikeja area of the state, adding that they had since been detained.

Ojo added the police officers were instructed to refund the money to the foreigner.

“The money is expected to be refunded tomorrow, Monday. We are doing this to make sure that the bad eggs in the police are fished out and we also want to follow this particular case to the end like we have always done,” he added.

In a picture sent to our correspondent, one of the officers was seen conversing with the expatriate in his vehicle.

A receipt of the transfer bearing the name of the expatriate and the recipient was also seen by our correspondent.

The command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached for a reaction as calls made to his telephone line were not answered. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as this report was filed.

PUNCH Metro reported in October 2024 that officers from Area C Police Command in Surulere allegedly extorted the sum of N1m from three members of the National Youth Service Corps members.

It was gathered that the corps members were stopped along the Surulere expressway before a group of officers surrounded their vehicle and started searching.

An argument ensued between the corps members and the officers before the vehicle was driven to the Area C Police Station where the extortion was said to have taken place.

The United States has commenced deportation proceedings for Nigerian nationals, with 85 individuals set to arrive in Lagos, while 116 others remain in detention.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has expressed concerns over the process, calling for a more humane approach.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement signed by her media aide, Magnus Eze, on Sunday, disclosed that “with about 201 Nigerians currently detained in US immigration centres and about 85 cleared for deportation,” the government is advocating for adherence to internationally prescribed guidelines.

Similarly, she reiterated the government’s stance in a post on her official X account on Monday, titled “US Deportations Begin.”

Lagos as Sole Deportation Destination
The United States also confirmed that deported Nigerians will be flown directly to Lagos.

Mills emphasised that individuals serving prison sentences in the US would be among the first group of deportees.

“Those to be repatriated would be dropped in Lagos. There would not be room for whether it should be in Port Harcourt or Abuja.

“The first group will be convicted prisoners—those who committed crimes and are in US prisons. Some of them are those who have clearly violated US immigration laws.

“They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the US. They have committed immigration crimes, people who have been ordered to leave,” Mills stated.

Bianca expressed concerns over the emotional and financial impact of deportations on Nigerians in the US and their families, emphasising the need for humane and compliant processes.

“With the new administration in the US, we want a situation where there will be commitments. If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return.

“At the moment, we’re told that about 201 Nigerian nationals are in US immigration camps, and about 85 have been cleared for deportation.

“Will there be any way of ameliorating their pains? This has been of great concern to not just Nigerian nationals in the US but family members in Nigeria who depend on them for survival, children whose school fees are paid for by these diasporans.

“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated? It will really be traumatic, especially for those who had not committed any violent crime,” she asked.

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
The deportation process comes as part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Donald Trump Administration. On his first day in office as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump signed several executive orders aimed at tightening immigration policies.

These include ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border.

He also announced the deployment of more troops to the southern border and reiterated his pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

These policy shifts, according to multiple media reports, have heightened concerns among immigrant communities.

Nigeria has signed a pipeline deal which would transport billions of cubic metres of gas 4,128 kilometres (2,565 miles) from Nigeria in West Africa through Niger and on to Algeria.

Officials from the three countries on Tuesday signed the deal in Algiers, Algeria’s capital, aimed at accelerating the development of a vast natural gas pipeline toward Europe.

The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) deal would also see the gas pumped through the undersea Mediterranean pipeline, Transmed to Italy, or loaded onto liquefied natural gas tankers for export.

The contracts centred on “an update of the feasibility study” and other issues, including non-disclosure agreements among their state energy companies.

The feasibility update will lay out the “required means for accelerating the development of this major project in a timely manner and at competitive costs,” Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab said.

While no update was given for the pipeline’s cost, which was estimated at launch at $10 billion, the project has been given new urgency by a surge in gas demand worldwide and soaring prices sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.