The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced exercises to review and decongest Custodial Centres across the country. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this after an assessment of the ongoing 3,000 capacity Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Janguza, Kano State, as well as the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja. Tunji-Ojo noted that the facility audit earlier done led to the ongoing exercise to massively decongest centres.

The Supreme Court has today, reserved judgment in the suit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on behalf of the Federal Government, against the 36 State Governors of the federation. The suit is seeking an enforcement of a full autonomy for all the 774 local governments across the country.

In the realm of Nigerian media, a storm of allegations surrounding blackmail and propaganda has emerged, with Mr. Jackson Ude taking center stage. Presently residing in the United States, Ude stands accused of exploiting his media platform to engage in a pattern of destructive behavior, tarnishing the reputations of those unfortunate enough to cross his path. Among his recent victims is the highly esteemed Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

It baffles and often aches me how we got to this level of social media degeneracy in which publications are let loose in their wildest representations. Cautions are now thrown overboard on issues that require facts with zero consideration for the readers' intelligence. The situation becomes more unfortunate when one is the subject of writing. A post alleging that the Director-General State Services (DGSS), Yusuf Bichi, CFR embezzled palliative funds meant for the personnel of the Secret Service is already making the rounds on social media. However, a close friend who works in that organization revealed that no such funds have been received by the DSS. This makes me wonder how people like Jackson Ude who posted the defamatory piece on X feel comfortable writing untruths about others.

I felt really constrained to write this piece after reading a report of an article written by J.S Okutepa (SAN) in which the senior lawyer alleged that the State Security Service (SSS) is overstepping its boundaries and usurping Police and anti-corruption powers. The constraints was borne out of the legal weight of the personality involved. However, a tinge of common sense compelled me to make this submission on the issue thrown up by the 'learned' legal giant.

I read with chagrin a social media write-up captioned "RUMBLES IN DSS: CORRUPTION AND NEPOTISM IN NIGERIA'S SECRET SERVICE (DSS) AMIDST RETENTION OF MR YUSUF BICHI AS DIRECTOR GENERAL". The composition repletes with debased arguments exemplifying the very nature of our society in which many believe that to get to the top, you have to deploy all manner of character assassination to bring down the perceived stumbling block to your ambition.