Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says the Nigerian government must take advantage of the moment to implement necessary changes [Presidency of Ghana]

He says victims of police brutality over the past 10 years must be compensated.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says he won't sign off on the 2021 appropriations bill unless it includes compensation for victims of police brutality.

President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2021 appropriations bill to the National Assembly with a proposed expenditure of N13.08 trillion two weeks ago.

Gbajabiamila said during plenary of the lower chamber of the Assembly on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 that people who have been victims of police brutality over the past 10 years must be compensated by the government.

"I will not sign off on a 2021 budget that does not include adequate provision to compensate those who have suffered violence and brutality in the hands of police in Nigeria in the last decade," he said.

The Speaker also announced that he won't sign off on the budget if it does not meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that the Federal Government has already agreed to.

He said the system of funding for higher education in Nigeria does a great disservice to the nation, and must be changed to foster innovation and excellence.

Gbajabiamila stands with #EndSARS protesters.

Thousands of protesters have been demonstrating nationwide for two weeks to demand the scrapping of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for numerous acts of brutality against citizens.

#EndSARS protesters have been holding nationwide demonstrations for two weeks to condemn police brutality

#EndSARS protesters have been holding nationwide demonstrations for two weeks to condemn police brutality

Even though the NPF dissolved the unit one week into the protests, protesters remain unsatisfied and have demanded more comprehensive police reform backed with immediate actions.

In his address at Tuesday's plenary, Gbajabiamila praised the peaceful protesters for attracting global attention to their cause in the bid to make the nation better.

"You're the midwives of national rebirth. You have moved the nation to action, and now you must join in doing the hard work of making real the vision of a more just, more prosperous, and more resilient nation," he said.

However, he cautioned them to not allow people with 'base motives' to hijack the cause of the protests and disrupt the country.

Demonstrations across the country have witnessed an uptick in violence over the past few days with thugs wrecking havoc.

Gbajabiamila advised the protested to move their agitations off the streets and continue to engage with authorities.

"This is the time to move your agitation from the chaos of the streets to the painstaking deliberations and strategic partnerships that birth policy and produce legislation.

"It is time to mobilise your voices in support of specific policy interventions that will deliver all our shared objectives of national renewal.

"Your country thanks you and history will be kind to you."

Anti-riot Police unit deployed nationwide.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Tuesday directed the deployment of anti-riot police unit, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), to quell the spate of violence around the country.

Two prisons were attacked in Edo State on Monday, October 19, 2020, with nearly 2,000 inmates freed, while three police stations were also burnt down, leading Governor Godwin Obaseki to impose a 24-hour curfew.

Three police stations were also attacked and burnt down in Lagos on Tuesday, October 20, leaving many officers injured and one rumoured to be dead after videos on social media showed him being savagely attacked by a mob.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also promptly imposed a 24-hour curfew.

Adamu said in a statement on Tuesday the Police Mobile Force (PMF) will protect the lives and property of all Nigerians and secure critical national infrastructure across the country.

Follow all the news by following and like us on this page.

CRUEL SCAM: A SINGLE dad took his own life after being tricked into sending money in an online romance scam.

Christopher Leeds transferred £500 to a woman who seemed to want a relationship, and was later found dead at home.

An inquest heard how the 43-year-old roofer started speaking to a woman, supposedly from Africa, who then started to demand cash.

Chris, from Dolgellau, Gwynedd in north west Wales, sent at least £500 for her flight to the UK, but she then started to ask for more.

Friend Gareth Evans said Chris soon realised he had been scammed but told him about another woman in Nigeria called 'Paramount'.

He gave her money too, and she was supposed to land in Britain two days before Chris' death.

Gareth said when he visited his pal he had been visibly upset, and when he returned later to check on his welfare he was dead.

Distraught family members attended the inquest into his death.

One woman told the coroner: "It was a scam. We have been through messages on his phone."

'A GENTLE SOUL'

Coroner Kate Sutherland recorded a conclusion of suicide and described the case as "truly, truly tragic".

She said: "He may well have been scammed and had been suffering from embarrassment.

"He appears to have been scammed by a person or persons purporting to be a woman or women from Africa. He was hugely impacted."

The coroner added: "He had years and years ahead of him. It presents a stark warning about the dangers out there."

Gareth, who said he knew his friend since he was a child, recalled how on the day of the tragedy a tearful Chris had told him "lots of s*** had happened with Paramount".

When Gareth returned to see if he was okay on December 5, 2020, he found Chris hanging and called for an ambulance and police.

"I said to the operator he had already gone," Gareth said in a statement read at the inquest.

Chris had been a guitarist with the group The Loaded Dice who once won a national competition to find Britain's best "live and unsigned" band.

Paying tribute to their former member, the group posted on their Facebook page: "While the band has long since gone its separate ways, we’re truly saddened to hear of the passing of former band member Christopher Leeds.

"He was a massive part of this band and all the boys are devastated by the news, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest easy Chris."

And an online obituary described Chris as "a loving son, brother, dad, uncle and friend".

It added: "To those close to Chris the loss is immeasurable but so is the love left behind.

"A gentle soul who will be missed by so many."


Source: thesun.co.uk/news