General
BPRS Suggests Effective Bail System to Nigeria Police
By Dipo Olowookere
Ways to effectively manage internal complaints mechanism and the process for obtaining bail at police stations across the country have been recommended to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris.
The suggestions were contained in a report presented by the Acting Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPRS), Mr D.I Arabi, recently.
Mr Arabi hinted that the exercise was conducted between October 2017 to February 2018 across the six geo-political zones and FCT, selecting one state each from the zones in line with the approval of the police chief given earlier in September 2017, for BPSR request to conduct two research studies on the Nigeria Police Force.
The studies were: Institutional Assessment of the Police internal complaints mechanism; and mapping the process of obtaining bail at the Nigeria police stations.
The assessments were carried out in six States Police Command Formations selected from the Zones, they include: Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano and Lagos; and the FCT.
According to the BPSR chief, the main objective of the study was to identity the challenges that have hindered the effectiveness of the police internal complaints mechanism; to identify the specific barriers and bottle necks in the bail process that hampers the effectiveness and efficiency of the process and to provide evidence based recommendations for reforms to improve efficiency in the internal complaints mechanism and the bail process.
For an effective assessment, BPSR adopted some approaches which include meetings and interviews with senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the State Commissioners of Police and other police personnel that were available at the selected States Police Commands and Formations in those zones.
Other approaches were the group discussions with diverse stakeholders, enabling them to collate diverse perspectives on the issues at stake. The studies identified gaps and also designed scenarios for improvements in structure, manpower deployment and the bail process mapping.
The highlight of the research studies was the presentation of the three key findings and the recommendations in each of the report. The first report explains clearly that there was no strategic plan or a strategic planning process that guides the activities of the force and the operations of the internal complaints mechanism towards attaining its mandate, consequently, work plans are either non-existent or are not linked to long term operational and strategic goals.
Among other findings are the PCB complaints desks that are poorly manned in terms of staffing and skills, especially in Kano where there was a great challenge on skills sets. There is also lack of requisite skills among majority of police officers manning public complaints desks at all levels.
Mr Arabi said that training the officers will equip them with intelligence gathering, data collection and analysis and human rights observances in order to display high sense of human relations and mediations.
Speaking on the bail process, Mr Arabi emphasized the need for uniform guidelines and standard operating procedure which according to him will minimize if not remove all forms of hindrances that had hitherto exposed the bail process to abuses.
On the recommendations; he emphasized that the NPF should standardize the operating procedure which will remove all forms of hindrances that had exposed the bail process to abuses.
The acting DG also advocated that the NPF should have standardized practices regarding arrest, detention and bail of suspects in the 36 states in the country and the FCT.
This would help design a functional referral system for civil cases between police and conflicts resolution agents such as courts and traditional rulers. He further reiterated the need for funding and resourcing mechanism for policing and police welfare. This will enable the Force to develop and implement strategies for creating awareness about the internal complaints mechanism.
According to the DG, if the recommendations are faithfully implemented, the NPF will become more effective and the IGP would have succeeded in putting in place an appropriate system for the Force which would further strengthen basic management capacity within the Nigeria Police Force.
Mr Arabi thanked Mr Idris for the opportunity afforded BPSR on this remarkable exercise and equally expressed profound gratitude to the Commissioners of Police in Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano and Lagos for their diligence and support.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death of Miss Mary Habila, a physiotherapist who died at the residence of the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The demise of the deceased, which occurred in late June, recently became public and has sparked calls for a probe from many quarters.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has approached the court to stop the autopsy, but experts tell Business Post that the family has no authority to file an affidavit, as this is a case of suspected murder against the state and not the family.
Mr Umahi has also called for a probe.
The Ebonyi Police Command said the autopsy was necessary to establish the cause of death and support its ongoing investigation, despite objections from the deceased’s family.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, stating that the police had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms Habila’s death.
Mr Ukandu said preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased and a colleague were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she later died in a room within the compound of his residence.
According to him, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) have visited the scene, documented relevant evidence and obtained statements from persons connected to the incident.
He added that the command had concluded arrangements to engage a qualified pathologist to carry out a post-mortem examination, which it considers crucial to determining the actual cause of death.
Mr Ukandu explained that the police became involved in the matter after receiving a distress call on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ohaozara Division, informing the command of a medical emergency involving Habila and requesting his presence at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu.
“On arrival, the DPO was informed by hospital authorities that Miss Mary Habila had been brought in dead.
He immediately briefed the Commissioner of Police, who directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation,” the statement read.
The police spokesperson disclosed that while the family of the deceased had opposed the conduct of an autopsy, the command considered the procedure necessary in view of the circumstances surrounding the death.
“The Command therefore awaits the attendance of the family or their duly appointed representative, as their presence is essential to the conduct of the post-mortem examination,” Mr Ukandu said, assuring the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally, transparently and without bias, stressing that every necessary step would be taken to uncover the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
Mr Ukandu further assured that the command would continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses.
Family Seeks to Stop Autopsy
The family of the deceased, who is a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works, formally requested the withdrawal of further investigation into her death and declined an autopsy.
In an affidavit titled Affidavit of Withdrawal of Case filed before the High Court of Justice of Ebonyi State, her father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, said the family was not alleging any foul play in her death and wished to proceed with her burial.
According to the affidavit, Mary Habila died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The deponent stated that before her death, Habila was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and had been seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi, Abuja, where she served in the Office of the Minister of Works for about three years.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of billions of Naira worth of assets linked to businesswoman and socialite, Ms Aisha Achimugu, to the federal government.
Justice Jude Onwugbuzie granted the order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), directing the permanent forfeiture of jewellery valued at N4.645 billion, 11 exotic vehicles worth N4.293 billion, $50,000 and N30 million in cash.
The ruling followed the EFCC’s request for the final forfeiture of the assets, which the commission said were linked to Ms Achimugu.
The forfeited assets include: Jewellery valued at N4,645,170,294.90; 11 exotic vehicles worth N4,293,000,000; $50,000 in cash; and N30,000,000 in cash.
The court’s judgment vests ownership of the assets in the federal government, bringing the forfeiture proceedings to a close.
In March, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to the Lagos socialite. However, in an interview in April, she denied that $13 million was discovered by the EFCC in her residence, describing the claim as inaccurate and misleading.
Justice Nwite had, on August 22, 2025, granted the anti-graft agency’s motion ex parte for an interim order forfeiting the sum of $13 million linked to Oceangate Ltd to the federal government over allegations that the fund was proceeds of unlawful activity.
The judge had then directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested people to show cause within 14 days why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
In 2024, the businesswoman gained significant media attention for a seven-day birthday celebration in Grenada, which was attended by high-profile guests, reportedly including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The socialite also defended her widely publicised birthday celebration, noting that it had been “planned for 10 years” and was not funded with any money under investigation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
To boost fertiliser production, strengthen food security and advance Nigeria’s domestic gas utilisation agenda, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has signed a 16-year Gas Sale Agreement (GSA) with Indorama Fertiliser FZE for the supply of up to 60 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Assa North Ohaji South (ANOH) Gas Processing Facility.
The agreement was signed by the chief executive of Renaissance, Mr Tony Attah, and Indorama’s counterpart, Mr Manish Mundra, with both executives describing the deal as a significant milestone in advancing Nigeria’s domestic gas utilisation agenda, industrial development, and agricultural growth aspirations.
“This agreement reflects our commitment to unlocking the value of Nigeria’s abundant gas resources through partnerships that create real and lasting impact,” Mr Attah said, adding: “By supplying natural gas to a major fertiliser producer such as Indorama, we are supporting a value chain that is critical to food security, agricultural productivity, industrial growth, and economic development.”
The agreement will provide Indorama Fertiliser with a secure and reliable source of natural gas to support uninterrupted production and enable the company to meet growing domestic and regional demand for fertiliser products.
The resulting increase in fertiliser availability is expected to contribute to improved crop yields, enhanced agricultural productivity, and strengthened food security across Nigeria and Africa.
Commenting on the agreement, Mr Mundra said the deal was an important milestone for the company in its ambition of supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“Reliable access to natural gas is fundamental to fertiliser production, and this long-term arrangement provides a strong foundation for sustainable operations and future growth,” Mr Mundra said. “We appreciate the partnership with Renaissance and look forward to leveraging this collaboration.”
The transaction aligns closely with Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative and further demonstrates the strategic role of natural gas in driving industrialisation, supporting manufacturing, enhancing energy security, and enabling economic diversification.
