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Mouka Denies Ordering Arrest of Protesting Workers

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Mouka Mums in Business Challenge

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The management of Mouka Limited, makers of mattresses in the country, has denied claims that it ordered the arrest of protesting workers on its premises last week.

On Thursday, August 12, 2021, some employees of the company staged a demonstration at the office of the organisation over what they described as unfair treatment by the management.

The protest was initially peaceful until it degenerated into violence, prompting the intervention of security officials, who went away with the aggrieved workers.

It was gathered that the demonstration resulted in the destruction of some properties within the company and its environs and Mouka has blamed the staff for this.

In a statement issued over the week, Mouka claimed that it never asked the police to arrest the agitators despite allegedly disrupting business activities on its premises and attacking other employees who refused to join them.

The firm said it was saddened that these employees could run to social media to “blackmail, intimidate and embarrass Mouka in order to justify their illegal disruption of work and molestation of law-abiding and peaceful staff of the company.”

“To put the record straight, Mouka Limited has robust staff welfare with a proud tradition of providing welfare benefits that go above and beyond the expected duty of care to the Mouka staff and their families.

“The company is committed to investing in people to ensure capacity building and readiness for future career growth. As a good corporate citizen, Mouka has also significantly contributed to the local communities in which it operates,” a part of the statement made available to Business Post read.

Explaining the genesis of the crisis, the company said, “As part of Mouka’s continuous improvement plans, the company recently undertook a restructuring program which engaged almost 10 per cent of the Mouka people across all employee grades and in all locations nationwide.

“The major objectives of this exercise were to strengthen operations and to provide career development opportunities for key deserving employees.

“However, as it is the case with every progressive development in corporate organizations, a few will resent the change. Unfortunately, the resentment of the current few agitators does not align with the majority.”

“The event of Thursday, August 12, 2021, whereby a few staff who were agitating unjustly for some personal demands, staged a protest which initially started as peaceful but later degenerated into harassment and attack of other staffers who had refused to be recruited into this anti-operation activity.

“Even then, the company being a law-abiding corporate organization, maintains an unprovoked stance even while the troublemakers continue throwing stones and objects at distributors, visitors and other staffers of the company.

“Unfortunately, the following day, the agitating few had recruited some non-staff hoodlums to join the agitation and they became violent. When the law enforcement agents who had all along been there to maintain peace and order could no longer bear the escalating attack on persons and an attempt to attack them, they called for reinforcement and effected the arrest of the few troublemakers.

“The company is disappointed that the actions of a few led to some unsavoury scenes in the roadways outside of the premises and in the immediate community. The company used all resources available to avoid this matter escalating into a civil disturbance requiring intervention, to no avail,” it further said.

The firm further stressed that, “We want to state categorically that Mouka management did not order for the arrest of any staff nor the violent few.”

“However, despite the fact that the arrests have not been ordered by the management of our company, efforts are being made to resolve the issue provided the violent attack and the infringement of other workers’ rights ceases.

“Our hope is that reason and good conscience will prevail in this circumstance as our company continues to remain focused on investing in the careers and livelihoods of our loyal, committed, and dedicated employees,” it stated.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Badeggi FM Radio: SERAP, Guild of Editors Sue Governor Bago

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By Adedapo Adesanya

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a suit against the Niger State Governor, Mr Umar Bago, over the alleged threat to shut down a private radio station in the state, Badeggi FM Radio.

In the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, and filed on Friday, August 8, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and NBC from further harassing, intimidating, and/or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM radio, revoke its licence, and profile the station’s owner.

“Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the governor will continue to threaten, intimidate, and harass the radio station and its owner and may weaponise the NBC against the station,” the groups said.

They asked the court to determine “whether by Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and Section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.”

The plaintiffs also appealed to the court to declare “that by the combined provisions of Section 22 of the Constitution and Section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM station and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from any threat, intimidation and harassment”.

In the suit, SERAP and NGE argued that “the failure and/or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of Badeggi FM radio against arbitrary executive interference and ongoing intimidation constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.”

They noted that “the ongoing intimidation, and threat by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its licence, further threat to demolish the station’s premises and profile its owner is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom”.

According to them, “the allegations of inciting violence against Badeggi FM and its owner are vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated and apparently made to silence the radio station”.

Recall that last week, SERAP and NGE asked the governor to reverse his directive of an immediate revocation of the operational licence of Badeggi Radio station. He accused the privately owned station of consistently inciting the public against the state government through its broadcasts.

Governor Bago issued the order during an expanded All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting held at the Hauwa Wali Multipurpose Hall in Government House, Minna.

According to him, such conduct was not only unprofessional but a deliberate attempt to destabilise the current administration’s efforts under the New Niger Development Agenda.

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NNPC Suspends Ikorodu Station Manager Over Pump Attendant’s Misconduct

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The manager of one of the retail stations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State has been suspended.

The action followed the alleged misconduct of one of the pump attendants of the affected filling station, a statement from the organisation said.

In the statement signed by the management of NNPC in Abuja on Friday, it was disclosed that the pump attendant accused of attempting to “swindle a customer” has been sacked and is longer working with the company.

The state-owned oil firm took these actions after its attention was “drawn to a recent video circulating on social media platforms depicting a pump attendant at a filling station attempting to swindle a customer.”

It was explained that after receiving the video, “a thorough investigation” was carried out and the incident was “traced to a station in Ikorodu, Lagos.”

NNPC Retail Limited, which is in charge of the downstream business of NNPC Limited, described the behaviour of the said pump attendant as “unacceptable,” emphasising that it “does not reflect the company’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and exceptional customer service.”

Apparently to deter others from emulating such, NNPC Retail Limited said, “The pump attendant involved has been disengaged, the Station Manager has been suspended, and a formal warning letter has been issued to the dealer” in charge of the facility.

“NNPC Retail would like to thank the public for their vigilance and encourage the reporting of any incidents through the appropriate channels (customer service numbers and email displayed at all stations) for immediate action.

“The company assures all customers of its continued strict enforcement of compliance with its operational standards across its network of filling stations,” the statement noted.

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ValueJet Blockage: K1 De Ultimate Begs Nigerians, Authorities for Forgiveness

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Fuji maestro, Mr Wasiu Ayinde, fondly known as K1 De Ultimate, has apologised over the unfortunate incident involving him blocking a ValueJet aircraft taxing at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on August 5, 2025.

The musician was seen in videos on the internet attempting to prevent the plane from taxing, an action described by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development as “reprehensible.”

He said if the pilot and the co-pilot were punished by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by revoking their licences; Mr Ayinde should also be sanctioned, directing he should be put on no fly list.

Earlier, the spokesman of the music act, Mr Kunle Rasheed, said Mr Ayinde was the victim of the incident, absolving him of any wrong-doing.

K1 De Ultimate was not allowed to be on the aircraft carrying passengers from Abuja to Lagos because he refused to give up his flask alleged to contain alcohol.

In a statement on Friday, the musician claimed the content in the flask was water, which he was advised by his doctor to take regularly because of a health issue.

“Unknown to many, I suffer from chronic dehydration, and my doctor strongly advised that I remain constantly hydrated. This is why I always carry a water flask with me. And contrary to the negative narrative being circulated in some quarters, the flask I carried on that particular day contained only water — not alcohol, as wrongly alleged.

“For the record, I passed through two security screenings with the flask empty. The flask was only filled with water at the lounge area, just before heading to the tarmac. This fact can be verified by the CCTV footage at the airport lounge. More so, I hadn’t even boarded the plane, let alone being deboarded.

“However, I acknowledge and deeply regret the concerns that arose from the incident. It was never my intention to cause any disruption or violate aviation protocols in any way.

“My unwavering patriotism and unshaken loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria have never been in doubt. Over the years, I have consistently used my God-given talent and platform to promote the Nigerian brand across the globe. I would never do anything to tarnish the image I’ve built over the past five decades, nor would I knowingly act in a way that could diminish the reputation of the country I love so dearly.

“That said, the incident is sincerely regretted. I remain committed to upholding the values and responsibilities that come with being a global ambassador of Nigerian music and culture.

“To the Presidency, Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, NCAA, ValueJet, fellow Nigerians, and my teeming fans across the world who have shown great concern since the incident happened, I tender my unreserved and heartfelt apology,” he said in the statement.

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