Kyari, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022.

Two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were apprehended at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also charged.

While Kyari and the IRT members pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were convicted.

Kyari’s requests for bail were repeatedly denied despite multiple applications until a recent decision by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

On May 22, 2024, Judge Emeka Nwite granted Kyari bail to allow him to complete the burial rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who passed away on May 5.

As part of his bail conditions, Kyari was required to deposit his passport with the court and report to the nearest NDLEA office during the bail period. The court scheduled May 31, 2024, for the hearing on Kyari’s main bail application regarding the drug trafficking charges.

Adamu Duza, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service of the Federal Capital Territory Command, confirmed on Friday night that Kyari met his bail conditions and was released that day.

Duza stated, “DCP Kyari has perfected his bail conditions and has since been released today.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced the commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, June 3rd, 2024.

This decision follows unsuccessful negotiations with the government regarding the proposed minimum wage and the recent controversial hike in electricity tariffs.

The negotiations broke down yesterday after the 37-member tripartite committee failed for the seventh time to agree on a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. The organized labour expressed frustration over the government’s lack of commitment and representation at the meeting.

In response to the strike declaration, the federal government accused the labour unions of walking out of the negotiations and acting prematurely. Another meeting has been scheduled for Monday.

Earlier in the week, the federal government had increased its offer from N57,000 to N60,000. However, the organized labour rejected this proposal, even though they had slightly lowered their demand from N497,000 to N494,000.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, urged the labour unions to be considerate and patriotic in their demands for a new minimum wage. However, the unions remained steadfast, insisting on a living wage that reflects the current economic realities.

At a briefing in Abuja yesterday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero and TUC President expressed disappointment over the absence of substantive ministers at the meeting, indicating there was no federal authority to make decisions.

The labour unions criticized the government’s lack of seriousness and apparent disregard for the workers’ demands, citing the absence of key officials at the negotiation meetings as evidence of the government’s disinterest in resolving the minimum wage issue.

ATLANTIC REPORTERS had previously reported that the organized labour issued an ultimatum to the federal government on May 1st, 2024, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of meaningful progress from the government’s side.

Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused activist Aisha Yesufu of exhibiting nonsensical behaviour.

Igbokwe said Yesufu was doing damage to herself and family by disrespecting the national anthem.

Yesufu had refused to sing the new national anthem “Nigeria we hail thee” at an event.

At an event, Yesufu could be seen sitting down while other stood up to honour and sing the new national anthem.

In a video she posted on X, the co-convener of BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, advocacy group, could be seen using her phone while the new national anthem was being recited.

Captioning the video, she wrote: “Not my national anthem.”

Reacting, Igbokwe posted on Facebook: “Aisha Yesufu cannot respect the National Anthem. Let us see where all the nonsensical behavior will take her to. She may not understand the damage she is doing to herself and her family. Continue.”

On Wednesday, DAILY POST reported that President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, into law.

The old national anthem, “Nigeria we hail thee” was reintroduced with the assent of the president.

Mixed reactions trailed the decision to assent to the bill at a time when Nigerians are experiencing hardship.

Amid the reactions, Tinubu said the reintroduction of new national anthem was a priority to him.

CREDIT: DAILY POST