The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ben Igweh, has refuted the authenticity of a viral video purportedly showing robbers attacking motorists at traffic lights in Abuja.

In a statement released by Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, the Commissioner stated, “Forensic analysis conducted by the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Centre has uncovered significant findings regarding a circulating video allegedly depicting security incidents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

The police clarified, “Contrary to initial assumptions, the investigation confirms that the depicted incident actually took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and was posted by a South African individual on X (formerly Twitter) on April 22nd, 2024. The video falsely suggests the necessity of carrying handguns for travel in Ethiopia.”

“It is deeply troubling that this misleading video has been erroneously associated with instilling fear and disseminating misinformation among FCT residents,” the police added.

Meanwhile, CP Igweh has initiated a thorough investigation to ascertain the original source of this misinformation and understand the motives behind its propagation. “The command reiterates its dedication to ensuring the safety and security of all FCT residents and will pursue all necessary legal measures to address this matter. We urge the public to remain vigilant and discerning when consuming information, particularly in the digital realm,” the statement concluded.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) refuted allegations that its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, engaged in a media trial of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

Olukoyede had convened a press conference where he disclosed that Bello withdrew $720,000 from a government account to cover his child’s school fees. He also asserted that the former governor invited the EFCC to his village for interrogation.

Additionally, the EFCC Chairman pledged to resign if he failed to apprehend Bello and proceed with the investigation. However, former Vice President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Prof. Nwoke Chijioke, criticized Olukoyede’s actions, labeling the press conference as an inappropriate and unjust trial.

Chijioke argued, “The EFCC chairman’s press conference of yesterday was really uncalled for. That is an unfair trial. All these challenges are because of what I would call a media trial.”

In contrast, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, defended Olukoyede’s statements, asserting that they did not contravene any regulations. Oyewale clarified, “There is nothing the chairman said on Tuesday that was not already in the public domain. Also, we have filed our processes, and everything is before the court, so the chairman did not say anything that is not already in the public domain. The chairman himself is a lawyer, and he knows his onions. Everything he said was within his rights as the Chief Executive Officer of the EFCC.”

President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the Eze family following the passing of Senator Ayogu Eze. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, conveyed this message in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja. Senator Eze served as the representative for Enugu North Senatorial Zone in the Senate from 2007 to 2015.

Ngelale noted that during his tenure in the Senate, Senator Eze held various positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Information and Media, as well as Chairman of the Committee on Works, among others. The President also extended his sympathies to the friends, associates, and former colleagues of the late senator, including the National Assembly as an institution.

Ngelale stated that Tinubu prayed for the departed soul to find peace and offered comfort to those mourning the loss.